Flags of Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) countries are displayed inside the Nigeria presidential villa, after the extraordinary session of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria on February 24, 2024. - ECOWAS announced on February 24, 2024 that they have lifted the sanctions on Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)
In a landmark ruling, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has held the Nigerian government accountable for human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
On Wednesday, July 10, the court ruled that the Nigerian government’s excessive use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos constituted severe breaches of multiple international human rights standards. The court specifically cited violations of articles 1, 5, 6, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
This judgment underscores the international community’s recognition of the Nigerian authorities’ misconduct during the protests, where peaceful demonstrators faced violent crackdowns. The court has ordered the Nigerian government to compensate each victim named in the suit with N2 million, delivering a significant verdict in the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in Nigeria.
As this ruling reverberates across the nation, it brings renewed hope for those seeking redress and highlights the crucial role of international bodies in upholding human rights.