The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has mandated the Federal Government of Nigeria to compensate Obianuju Udeh, known as DJ Switch, along with Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, with ₦2 million each.
This ruling is due to violations of their rights during the peaceful End SARS protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State on October 20 and 21, 2020.
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The court identified Nigeria’s breach of several provisions under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including:
– Article 1: Obligation of the state to recognize the rights, duties, and freedoms in the Charter.
– Article 4: Right to life.
– Article 6: Right to liberty and security of person.
– Article 9: Right to receive information and free expression.
– Article 10: Right to free association.
– Article 11: Right to assemble freely.
– Prohibition of torture.
– Duty of the state to investigate and provide effective remedies for rights violations.
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Justice Koroma Sengu, who delivered the judgment, dismissed the specific allegation that the right to life under Article 4 was violated.
However, he affirmed that the Federal Government must comply with its obligations under the African Charter, investigate and prosecute agents responsible for the violations, and report back to the court within six months on the measures taken to implement the judgment.
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Despite the Nigerian government’s denial of all claims and assertion that the protesters unlawfully assembled at the Lekki Toll Gate, the court ruled that the government had indeed violated several articles of the African Charter, resulting in fundamental breaches of human rights.
