The Community Court of Justice (ECOWAS) has concluded that the Federal Government was guilty of human rights violations during the 2020 #EndSARS protests across the country.
The ECOWAS court found Nigeria in breach of Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, specifically on the right to life, security of person, freedom of expression, assembly and association, prohibition of torture, the duty of the state to investigate, and the right to effective remedy.
Consequently, the court has ruled that the federal government must pay a sum of N2million each to each of the applicants: Obianuju Udeh, better known as DJ Switch, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka,
The plaintiffs had alledged that the violations occurred during the peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State on October 20 and 21, 2020.
Justice Koroma Sengu who delivered the verdict, however, dismissed the allegation that the right to life as guaranteed under article 4 of the ACPHR is violated.
But he held that the government must pay the compensations for violations of the security of person, prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, duty to investigate human rights violations, and right to effective remedy.
Also, he stated that federal government must adhere to its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, investigate and prosecute its agents responsible for these violations, and report to the court within six months on the measures taken to implement this judgment.
The applicants alleged that during the peaceful protests against the SARS unit of the Nigerian Police Force at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20 and 21, 2020, the respondent committed several human rights violations.
Triggered by the alleged killing of Daniel Chibuike, the protests aimed to address police harassment and brutality.
The first applicant’s, which id DJ Switch, claims include that soldiers from the Nigerian army shot protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries, which she live-streamed, subsequently receiving threatening phone calls that forced her into hiding and eventual asylum.
Kamsi on her part, responsible for protesters’ welfare, described how soldiers began shooting at the venue in Lekki, after a power cut, leading to her hospitalisation due to police tear gas.
Adeyinka recounted narrowly escaping being shot, observing the refusal of ambulance entry by soldiers, and later witnessing inadequate hospital care for victims.
She argued that she and her colleagues took over the victims’ care and she faced ongoing threats and surveillance, believed to be by respondent’s agents.
The applicants sought declaratory relief and compensation from the court for these violations.
The respondent denied all claims made by the applicants, asserting that the protesters unlawfully assembled at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020, under the guise of protesting against SARS.
The respondent also maintained that its agents followed strict rules of engagement and did not shoot or kill protesters.
It argued that the first applicant incited the crowd by playing music and using her Instagram page to stir disaffection against law enforcement, who were targeting escapee members of Boko Haram and bandits.
The respondent contended that the second applicant’s logistics and welfare support provision indicated her support for the violent protest.
It claimed that soldiers were present to restore peace until the police arrived, denying any harm inflicted on protesters and the refusal of ambulance access.
The respondent also denied that the third applicant’s presence was peaceful, asserting it was meant to escalate violence.
It argued that the Lagos State Government managed the treatment and care of the injured and submits that the applicants have not provided credible evidence to support their claims, or the reliefs sought.
In its judgment, the court found there was no violation of the right to life.
However, the court held that the respondent breached several articles of the ACPHR which occasioned fundamental breaches of human rights violation therein.
Furthermore, the court declared that the applicants were denied the right to an effective remedy.
