The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay ₦10 million in damages to journalist, Jide Oyekunle after finding that his rights were violated while covering the nationwide “End Bad Governance” protests in Abuja.
The judgment, delivered on June 22, 2026, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, followed a case instituted by Avocats Sans Frontières France under its eRIGHTS project, which is supported by the European Union and focuses on the protection of digital and human rights.
According to the court, Oyekunle, who serves as Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, was physically assaulted, unlawfully detained and had his mobile phone seized by police officers while providing live coverage of protests at Eagle Square, Abuja, in August 2025.
The court held that the actions of the security operatives interfered with the journalist’s ability to report on a matter of public interest and therefore violated his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In its ruling, the court further found that the assault and detention breached Oyekunle’s rights to personal liberty and human dignity under Articles 6 and 5 of the Charter. It also ruled that the temporary confiscation of his mobile phone constituted a violation of his property rights under Article 14.
The judges rejected the Nigerian government’s justification for the actions of the security personnel, holding that the conduct failed to meet the international legal standard of necessity and was therefore excessive and unlawful.
Reacting to the judgment, Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, described the decision as a significant victory for press freedom and digital rights.
“This judgment sends a clear message that a journalist’s digital tools are extensions of the modern press and newsroom, and their arbitrary confiscation by security forces is a direct assault on the public’s right to know,” she said.
ASF France noted that the ruling strengthens legal protections for journalists and human rights defenders who document protests and public-interest events across West Africa. The organisation said it would continue monitoring compliance with the judgment while providing legal support to journalists facing similar violations.
The judgment is expected to add to the growing body of ECOWAS Court jurisprudence aimed at safeguarding civic space, press freedom and digital rights within the region.
The eRIGHTS project is implemented by ASF France in partnership with the Centre for Information Technology and Development and seeks to promote and protect digital rights in Nigeria through advocacy, strategic litigation and capacity building.
