The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay N10 million in general damages to journalist Jide Oyekunle over his alleged unlawful arrest, assault, and confiscation of his professional equipment while covering the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in Abuja.
The ruling, delivered in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25 on June 22, 2026, was secured through legal action supported by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France), under its eRIGHTS project funded by the European Union, which focuses on digital rights and online freedom of expression.
Oyekunle, a reporter with Independent Newspaper and Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, was reportedly assaulted and detained by armed police officers on August 1, 2024 at Eagle Square, Abuja. His camera was damaged and his mobile phone seized during the incident, allegedly on the orders of the then FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh.
In its judgment, the Court held that the actions of the security operatives were excessive, unjustified, and in violation of international human rights standards. It found Nigeria liable for breaching Oyekunle’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, dignity, and property as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Court further ruled that the journalist’s detention and the seizure of his phone unlawfully restricted his ability to carry out live reporting, thereby infringing on his freedom of expression under Article 9. It also determined that his arrest and treatment violated Articles 5 and 6, which protect human dignity and personal liberty, while the confiscation of his device amounted to a breach of property rights under Article 14.
According to the Court, the government’s justification for the actions failed the legal test of necessity under international law, rendering the conduct of the security agencies unlawful.
Reacting to the judgment, Avocats Sans Frontières France Country Director, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, said the decision reinforces the protection of journalists and recognizes digital tools as essential instruments of modern journalism. She noted that arbitrary seizure of such tools undermines the public’s right to information.
She added that the ruling strengthens regional jurisprudence on press freedom and accountability, especially for journalists covering protests and civic events, and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting media professionals facing rights violations.
Oyekunle described the judgment as a landmark victory not only for himself but for all journalists and citizens who rely on free expression and access to information. He emphasized that democracy cannot thrive where the press is intimidated or silenced.
He also called for greater accountability from security agencies, stressing that press freedom remains essential to transparency, good governance, and civic participation.
