The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has awarded N10 million in general damages against the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the physical assault, unlawful arrest, detention, and seizure of property belonging to journalist Jide Oyekunle during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in Abuja.
The judgment, delivered on June 22, 2026, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, was secured by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), also known as Lawyers Without Borders France, under its European Union-supported eRIGHTS project, which promotes and protects human rights in the digital space.
Oyekunle, a reporter with Independent Newspaper and Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory Council, was assaulted, detained, and had his camera damaged and mobile phone confiscated by armed police officers on August 1, 2024, while covering the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests at Eagle Square, Abuja.
According to court documents, the actions were carried out on the orders of the former FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh.
In its ruling, the ECOWAS Court agreed with counsel to the applicant, Collins I. Maidoh-Anene, that the journalist’s detention and the seizure of his mobile phone were excessive, unjustified, and contrary to international law.
The regional court held the Federal Republic of Nigeria responsible for violating Oyekunle’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, human dignity, and property as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The court ruled that the actions of the security operatives effectively disrupted the journalist’s live coverage of the protest, thereby infringing on his right to freedom of expression under Article 9 of the African Charter.
It further held that the assault and detention violated his rights to personal liberty, dignity, and freedom from degrading treatment under Articles 5 and 6 of the Charter, while the temporary confiscation of his mobile phone amounted to a violation of his property rights under Article 14.
The court also found that Nigeria’s justification for the actions of its security personnel failed the test of necessity under international law, describing the conduct as excessive and unlawful.
Consequently, the ECOWAS Court ordered the Nigerian government to pay Oyekunle N10 million as general damages.
Reacting to the judgment, the Country Director of ASF France, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, described the decision as a significant milestone in the protection of journalists and digital rights across the region.
She said the ruling sends a strong signal that journalists’ digital tools are integral to modern journalism and that arbitrary confiscation of such devices by security agencies amounts to an attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information.
“The court’s pronouncement adds to the growing jurisprudence from the regional court protecting journalists and human rights defenders who document protests and public interest events,” she said.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu added that ASF France would continue to monitor compliance with the judgment and provide legal support to journalists facing similar violations.
“For Avocats Sans Frontières France and the eRIGHTS project partners, this ruling strengthens legal protections for journalism in the digital age. It shields reporters from tech-based censorship and intimidation, puts security agencies on notice that targeting media practitioners during protests will attract accountability, and reaffirms the ECOWAS Court as a vital shield for civic space in the region,” she stated.
Oyekunle, while welcoming the judgment, described it as a landmark affirmation of journalists’ rights to perform their constitutional duties without intimidation, harassment, or attacks.
He stressed that democracy cannot flourish in an environment where journalists are punished for documenting public events or where citizens are victimized for exercising their lawful rights.
“The decision of the ECOWAS Court is not only about me; it is about every journalist, media worker, and Nigerian citizen who believes in the right to freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful civic participation,” he said.
“This judgment sends a clear message that security agencies and government institutions must be held accountable when they violate fundamental rights.
“Because if democracy is all about good governance, accountability, and transparency, then press freedom should not be curtailed, denied, or restricted.”
The journalist expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Council, ASF France, colleagues, human rights advocates, and Nigerians who supported him throughout the legal process and continue to champion press freedom and democratic values in the country.
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