Connect with us

News

ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay Journalist ₦10m for Rights Violations During #EndBadGovernance Protest

Published

on

ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay Journalist ₦10m for Rights Violations During #EndBadGovernance Protest

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has found the Federal Republic of Nigeria liable for violating the fundamental rights of journalist and President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Jide Oyekunle, during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja and ordered the government to pay him ₦10 million in compensation.

In a landmark judgment delivered on June 22, 2026, in suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, the regional court held that Nigerian authorities violated Jide’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, human dignity, protection against torture and degrading treatment, and his right to own and enjoy property following his treatment by security agents while covering the protest at Eagle Square on August 1, 2024.

The court also directed the Nigerian government to submit, within three months, a report detailing steps taken to implement the judgment and ordered it to bear the costs of the proceedings.

Jide had approached the regional court alleging that police officers assaulted him, unlawfully detained him and confiscated his professional equipment while he was performing his duties as a journalist during the protest. He claimed that security operatives fired tear gas at the protest venue, seized his mobile phone for about eight hours and damaged his Canon camera. He further alleged that he was subsequently subjected to unlawful surveillance and monitoring of his telephone communications.

The journalist sought declarations that his rights to freedom of expression, liberty, dignity, property and privacy had been breached and demanded ₦505 million in general and special damages.

The Nigerian government denied the allegations and argued that the protest had become violent, necessitating the deployment of security personnel to secure the Three Arms Zone in Abuja. It further contended that Jide’s temporary detention was lawful and resulted from his refusal to comply with directives issued by law enforcement officers.

However, the three-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves and comprising Justices Sengu Mohamed Koroma and Edward Amoako Asante, dismissed the government’s defence, holding that the applicant was engaged in legitimate journalistic activity on a matter of significant public interest and that the state failed to provide any lawful basis for interfering with his work or confiscating his mobile phone.

The court ruled that the actions of security agents amounted to a violation of the journalist’s right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The judges further held that Nigeria failed to produce evidence of any judicial warrant or lawful process to justify Jide’s detention and consequently declared the detention arbitrary and a breach of his right to liberty and security of person.

Relying on video and photographic evidence tendered by the applicant, the court also found that security agents physically assaulted and dragged the journalist while he was carrying out his professional duties. It ruled that such treatment amounted to degrading treatment and torture and faulted the Nigerian authorities for failing to conduct an effective investigation into the allegations.

The court equally held that there was sufficient evidence to establish that Jide’s mobile phone was unlawfully confiscated during the protest, thereby violating his right to own and enjoy property.

However, the regional court declined to award special damages relating to the alleged destruction of his camera, holding that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish state responsibility for the damage. It also dismissed his claim that his right to privacy had been violated, ruling that he failed to provide sufficient evidence linking the alleged surveillance, interception of communications and deletion of data to state security agents.

The judgment is one of the most significant pronouncements by the ECOWAS Court on the protection of journalists and press freedom in recent years and comes amid persistent concerns by media and human rights organisations over the treatment of journalists covering protests and civil unrest in Nigeria. It reinforces the principle that journalists performing their professional duties, particularly while reporting on matters of public interest, are entitled to protection under regional and international human rights instruments and that states have a legal obligation to ensure that security operations do not infringe upon fundamental freedoms guaranteed by law.

ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay Journalist ₦10m for Rights Violations During #EndBadGovernance Protest

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Troops, Police Recover Suspected IED, Reopen Road in Zamfara

Published

on

Troops, Police Recover Suspected IED, Reopen Road in Zamfara

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and the Nigerian Police Force have safely recovered a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a road in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation was conducted at about 1:55 p.m. on Aug. 7 by troops of CSI Battalion VI/CT 2, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, deployed at Forward Operating Base Kaura Namoda, in conjunction with a Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and troops of the 1 Brigade Quick Reaction Force.

The team mobilised to Jabanda village, following a report of a suspected IED planted along the road.

According to military sources, the team located and successfully cleared the suspected explosive device.

Following the successful operation, the road was declared safe and reopened to motorists, restoring normal vehicular movement along the route.

The security forces subsequently continued their operations to ensure the safety of commuters and residents in the area.

Troops, Police Recover Suspected IED, Reopen Road in Zamfara

Continue Reading

News

Law School Student Dies in Suspected Suicide at Lagos Hostel

Published

on

Law School Student Dies in Suspected Suicide at Lagos Hostel

By Zagazola Makama

A 23-year-old student of the Nigerian Law School has died in a suspected suicide incident at the school’s hostel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, when the deceased, identified as Alayande Faith Ajoke, was found dead within the hostel premises.

According to sources, the Chief Matron of the Law School, Mrs. Igbokwe Juliana, reported the incident at the Victoria Island Police Division at about 6:30 a.m.

The report stated that at about 4:30 a.m., a student who had just completed her internship, Ojo Abisoye Tinuola, informed the matron about a suspected suicide involving her roommate, Alayande.

The matron subsequently proceeded to the scene, where the deceased was found lying on the ground within the hostel premises.

Preliminary observations indicated that the deceased may have jumped from the rooftop of the four-storey hostel building.

Police sources said preliminary investigation further revealed that the deceased allegedly left behind two notes addressed to her stepfather and roommate.

Following the report, a team of police detectives visited the scene, documented the area and took photographs of the scene and the body.

The remains were subsequently evacuated to the Mainland General Hospital Mortuary, Yaba, for preservation and autopsy.

The police said investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death is ongoing.

Law School Student Dies in Suspected Suicide at Lagos Hostel

Continue Reading

News

Gov Abiodun Commends Army, Police, DSS, Others for Intelligence-led Rescue of 5 Kidnapped Poly Students, 2 Others

Published

on

Breaking…

Gov Abiodun Commends Army, Police, DSS, Others for Intelligence-led Rescue of 5 Kidnapped Poly Students, 2 Others

  • 5 Suspects Arrested

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has lauded the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, as well as Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for rescuing five kidnapped students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo North Local Government Area of the state.

The students, who were abducted by suspected kidnappers earlier this week, were rescued in the early hours of Friday, in an intelligence-led operation around Alamala community, off Ayetoro Road Roundabout, of the state capital. Also rescued were two non-students.

The governor described the rescue as a major breakthrough in its fight against kidnapping, even as he reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that kidnappers and other criminal elements have no hiding place in the state.

He described the operation, which included members of the State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilantes and hunters, as a demonstration of the success that can be achieved when security agencies work together.

“One of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the incident and was immediately evacuated for medical attention. The student has since been stabilised.
“This operation is still ongoing, and I wish to assure the good people of Ogun State that our security agencies remain on the trail of every individual connected with this criminal enterprise,” said the governor.

“Our resolve is very clear. Ogun State will remain hostile to criminality and safe for every law-abiding citizen, resident and investor,” the Governor declared, stressing that

According to him, recent joint security initiatives, particularly Operation Kò S’Áyé, have demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration and sustained operational pressure against criminal elements.

The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to combating banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the country, noting that the recent rescue of 308 abducted victims by Nigerian security forces underscores the growing effectiveness of coordinated security operations nationwide. (Reuters)

“At this juncture, I must acknowledge the purposeful leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has placed the restoration of peace and security at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda through sustained investment in the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
“The strengthening of intelligence coordination, the acquisition of modern security assets and his deliberate reforms have continued to deepen inter-agency collaboration,” he said.

The governor further noted that the Federal Government has continued to strengthen the nation’s security architecture, adding that the recent approval of a substantial salary increase for officers and men of the Armed Forces would further boost personnel welfare and morale.

“One of the kidnapped victims sustained a gunshot injuries during the operation and was immediately evacuated for medical attention and has since been stabilised.” disclosed a security source.

Gov Abiodun Commends Army, Police, DSS, Others for Intelligence-led Rescue of 5 Kidnapped Poly Students, 2 Others

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights