The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has awarded N10 million in general damages against the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the physical assault, unlawful arrest, and seizure of property belonging to Jide Oyekunle, a journalist with Independent Newspaper.
The landmark ruling in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25 was secured by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France) on June 22, 2026, under its eRIGHTS project, supported by the European Union, which focuses on defending human rights in the digital space.
Oyekunle, the secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Federal Capital Territory, was physically assaulted and unlawfully detained. His camera was damaged, and his mobile phone was seized by armed police officers on the order of the former FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, at Eagle Square, Abuja, on August 1, 2024, while he was covering the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
The Court agreed with Counsel to the applicant, Collins I. Maidoh-Anene, Esq., that the Nigerian police’s detention of the journalist and seizure of his mobile phone were excessive, unjustified, and in violation of international law.
The ECOWAS Court subsequently found the Federal Republic of Nigeria liable for violating the applicant’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, dignity, and property under the African Charter.
The Court therefore ordered the Nigerian government to pay Mr Oyekunle the sum of N10 million in general damages.
The court found that Nigeria’s actions suppressed his live coverage, thereby breaching his right to freedom of expression under Article 9 of the African Charter.
It also ruled
