The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, ruled on Wednesday that the Federal Republic of Nigeria violated the human rights of Obianuju Catherine Udeh and two others during the EndSARS protests.
The court determined that Nigeria breached Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, encompassing rights such as 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 an effective remedy.
As part of its judgment, the court ordered Nigeria to pay N2 million as compensation for the rights violations.
Additionally, the court mandated that security agents responsible for the offenses be prosecuted, with a requirement for Nigeria to report back within six months on the measures taken to implement the judgment.
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The applicants, Obianuju Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi, and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, alleged that these violations occurred during peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State on October 20 and 21, 2020.
Udeh, who live-streamed the incident, claimed soldiers shot at protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries.
She also stated receiving threatening phone calls that forced her into hiding and eventual asylum.
Kamsi, responsible for protesters’ welfare, recounted how soldiers opened fire after a power cut, leading to her hospitalization due to exposure to tear gas.
Adeyinka narrowly avoided being shot, witnessed soldiers preventing ambulance entry, and described inadequate hospital care for victims.
The applicants argued that their actions during the protests were in response to human rights abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force.
