The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ruled that the Federal Republic of Nigeria violated the human rights of Obianuju Udeh and two others during the #EndSARS protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State on October 20 and 21, 2020.

The court found Nigeria in breach of several articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including the right to life, security of person, freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and the prohibition of torture. Justice Koroma Sengu, delivering the judgment, ordered the Federal Government to pay N2 million in compensation to each applicant for these violations.

The applicants, Obianuju Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi, and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, alleged that the violations occurred during the peaceful protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police Force. They reported that soldiers shot at protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries, and described various instances of harassment and brutality.

The Federal Government denied the allegations, arguing that the protesters unlawfully assembled and that its agents followed strict rules of engagement. However, the court held that the government breached several human rights articles and denied the applicants the right to an effective remedy.

The court ordered the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the violations and to report back within six months on the measures taken to implement the judgment.