The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay N10 million in damages to journalist Jide Oyekunle over his assault, unlawful arrest, and seizure of personal property by police officers during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja.
The judgment, delivered in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25 on June 22, 2026, followed a legal action instituted on behalf of Oyekunle by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France) under its European Union-supported eRIGHTS project, which promotes the protection of digital and human rights.
Oyekunle, who serves as Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, was reportedly assaulted, detained, and deprived of his mobile phone while covering the nationwide protests at Eagle Square, Abuja, on August 1, 2024. His camera was also damaged during the incident, allegedly on the directive of the then Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Benneth Igweh.
In its ruling, the regional court held that the actions of the Nigerian security agencies violated Oyekunle’s fundamental rights, including his rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, human dignity, and property as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The court noted that the detention of the journalist and confiscation of his mobile phone were unjustifiable and excessive, stressing that the measures failed to meet the requirements of necessity under international human rights standards.
According to the court, the actions of the authorities disrupted Oyekunle’s live coverage of the protest, thereby infringing on his right to freedom of expression. It further ruled that his assault and detention amounted to violations of his rights to personal liberty and dignity, while the seizure of his phone constituted a breach of his right to own property.
Consequently, the court awarded N10 million in general damages against the Nigerian government.
Reacting to the judgment, Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontières France, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, described the ruling as a significant victory for press freedom and digital rights.
She stated that the court had reaffirmed the importance of journalists’ digital devices as essential tools of modern journalism, adding that arbitrary confiscation of such equipment by security agencies amounts to an attack on the public’s right to access information.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu noted that the judgment further strengthens legal safeguards for journalists and human rights defenders covering protests and matters of public interest across the region. She added that the organization would continue to monitor compliance with the ruling and provide support to media practitioners facing similar violations.
Speaking after the verdict, Oyekunle welcomed the decision, describing it as a landmark affirmation of journalists’ rights to carry out their professional duties without fear, intimidation, or harassment.
He said the judgment extends beyond his personal experience and serves as a victory for journalists, media workers, and citizens committed to freedom of expression, access to information, and democratic participation.
According to him, the ruling sends a strong signal that security agencies and public institutions must be held accountable whenever they infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.
Oyekunle also expressed gratitude to the NUJ FCT Council, Avocats Sans Frontières France, fellow journalists, human rights advocates, and other supporters who stood by him throughout the legal process.
He emphasized that a thriving democracy depends on transparency, accountability, and a free press, stressing that journalists must be allowed to perform their constitutional responsibilities without interference.
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