The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community court of justice ruled that the Nigerian government is guilty of human rights abuses in its handling of the #EndSARS protest in October 2020. The court mandated the Nigerian government to pay each applicant 2 million naira as compensation for violations of their security.
This ruling followed the case brought against the Federal Government by Obianuju Catherine Udeh (DJ Switch), Perpetual Kamsi, and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka over alleged violations during the peaceful protests at the Lekki tollgate on October 20 and 21, 2020.
The ECOWAS court held that the Nigerian government’s actions, particularly its disproportionate use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate, breached several international human rights standards, including articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. However, the presiding judge, Justice Koroma Sengu, dismissed the allegation that the right to life as guaranteed under Article 4 of the ACPHR was violated.
DJ Switch claimed that protesters were shot by soldiers, resulting in death and injuries, which she live-streamed. She also claimed to have received threatening phone calls that forced her into hiding and eventual asylum. The second applicant, who was in charge of welfare for protesters, recounted how soldiers began shooting after the power went out, leading to her hospitalization due to police tear gas. The third applicant recalled narrowly escaping being shot, witnessing soldiers deny an ambulance entry, and later observing inadequate medical service for victims at the hospital.
