BREAKING: ECOWAS Court Fines FG N2M Over #EndSARS Rights Abuse, Finds Govt Guilty of Using Force

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has found the Federal Government of Nigeria guilty of human rights violations during the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.

The court ruled that the government’s use of force, particularly at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, breached international human rights standards, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The applicants alleged that these violations occurred during the peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State on October 20 and 21, 2020.

The protests were against police harassment and brutality, and the applicants claimed that the Nigerian government’s agents used excessive force, resulting in deaths, injuries, and human rights abuses.

The court dismissed the allegation of violation of the right to life but ordered the Nigerian government to pay each applicant N2 million as compensation for the violations of their rights. The government was also directed to investigate and prosecute its agents responsible for the violations and report to the court within six months.

The applicants had alleged that during the protests, soldiers shot at protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries and that they were subjected to torture, harassment, and intimidation.

The first applicant, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, claimed that she was forced into hiding and eventually sought asylum after receiving threatening phone calls.

The second applicant, Perpetual Kamsi, described how soldiers began shooting after a power cut, leading to her hospitalization due to police tear gas.

The third applicant, Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, recounted narrowly escaping being shot and witnessing inadequate hospital care for victims.

The Nigerian government had denied all claims made by the applicants, asserting that its agents followed strict rules of engagement and did not shoot or kill protesters. However, the court found that several articles of the ACHPR were breached by the respondent.