ECOWAS Court Slams Nigeria Over Assault on Journalist, Awards N10m Damages

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay N10 million in damages to journalist Mr. Jide Oyekunle for what it described as the unlawful assault, detention, and seizure of his property by police officers while carrying out his professional duties.

The landmark judgment, delivered in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, found Nigeria liable for violating Oyekunle’s fundamental rights during the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in Abuja on August 1, 2024.

Oyekunle, a reporter with Independent Newspaper and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, was reportedly assaulted, arrested, and detained by armed police officers acting on the orders of former FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, while covering the demonstrations at Eagle Square.

During the incident, his mobile phone was confiscated and his camera damaged, effectively disrupting his live coverage of the protest.

The case was pursued by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France) under its European Union-supported eRIGHTS project, which advocates for the protection of human rights in digital spaces.

In its judgment delivered on June 22, 2026, the regional court upheld the arguments of Oyekunle’s counsel, Collins I. Maidoh-Anene, ruling that the journalist’s detention and the seizure of his phone were excessive, unjustified, and inconsistent with international human rights standards.

The Court held that Nigeria violated Oyekunle’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, dignity, and property as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

It further ruled that the actions of the police prevented the journalist from carrying out his constitutional duty of reporting on a matter of public interest, thereby infringing on his right to freedom of expression under Article 9 of the Charter.

According to the Court, the assault and detention also breached his rights to personal liberty, human dignity, and protection from degrading treatment under Articles 5 and 6, while the confiscation of his mobile phone constituted a violation of his property rights under Article 14.

The judges rejected Nigeria’s justification for the actions of the security personnel, holding that the measures failed the test of necessity under international law and amounted to excessive and unlawful conduct.

Consequently, the Court awarded Oyekunle N10 million in general damages.

Reacting to the judgment, Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontières France, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, described the ruling as a major victory for press freedom and digital rights across the West African region.

“This judgment sends a clear message that a journalist’s digital tools are extensions of the modern newsroom and that their arbitrary confiscation by security forces amounts to a direct attack on the public’s right to information,” she said.

She noted that the decision adds to a growing body of ECOWAS Court jurisprudence protecting journalists and human rights defenders who document protests and other events of public interest.

Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said 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 technology-driven censorship and intimidation, places security agencies on notice that attacks on journalists during protests will attract accountability, and reaffirms the ECOWAS Court as a critical defender of civic space in the region,” she stated.

Oyekunle also welcomed the ruling, describing it as a powerful affirmation of journalists’ rights to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence.

“The decision of the ECOWAS Court is not only about me; it is about every journalist, media worker, and Nigerian citizen who believes in freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful civic participation,” he said.

He added that the judgment sends a strong signal that security agencies and public institutions can be held accountable when they violate fundamental rights.

“Democracy cannot thrive where journalists are attacked for documenting events or where citizens are punished for exercising their lawful rights. If democracy is about accountability, transparency, and good governance, then press freedom must never be curtailed,” he said.

The journalist expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Avocats Sans Frontières France, colleagues, rights advocates, and Nigerians who supported him throughout the legal battle.

The ruling is expected to further strengthen legal protections for journalists across West Africa and reinforce calls for greater accountability by security agencies in their dealings with media practitioners covering protests and other public events.