The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice indicted the Nigerian government on Wednesday for human rights violations committed in response to the #EndSARS protest, particularly its disproportionate use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.
The ECOWAS sub-regional Court, in a decision issued by Judge Rapporteur, Justice Koroma Sengu, also imposed a N10 million compensation in favor of each victim identified in the lawsuit.
According to a statement from a human rights activist, Chioma Chuka-Agwuegbo, the lawsuit brought before the ECOWAS Court by a coalition of human rights activists and organisations alleges serious abuses of fundamental human rights by Nigerian security forces.
Amnesty International (AI) also submitted an Amicus Brief, which the Court found admissible.
According to Chuka-Agwuegbo, the ECOWAS Court's ruling demonstrates the relevance of regional legal systems in holding governments accountable and preserving people' rights, as well as the vital role of civil society in campaigning for justice and human dignity.
After thoroughly reviewing the material and testimony, the Court determined that the Nigerian government's actions violated key international human rights norms, including Articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
