The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay N10 million in damages to journalist Jide Oyekunle for rights violations during the #EndBadGovernance protests, in a landmark ruling for press freedom in West Africa .
The judgment, delivered on June 22, 2026, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, found Nigeria liable for the assault, unlawful detention, and seizure of property suffered by Oyekunle, a journalist with Independent Newspaper and Secretary of the NUJ FCT Council .
The Incident
Oyekunle was physically assaulted, detained, and had his mobile phone confiscated by armed police officers at Eagle Square, Abuja, on August 1, 2024, while covering the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests . The actions were reportedly carried out on the orders of the former FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh . His camera was also damaged during the attack .
The Court's Findings
The regional court held that Nigeria's actions violated Oyekunle's rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights . Specifically, the court ruled that:
· Suppressing his live coverage breached his right to freedom of expression under Article 9
· The assault and detention violated his rights to personal liberty and human dignity under Articles 5 and 6
· The seizure of his mobile phone constituted a violation of his right to property under Article 14
The court further held that Nigeria's justification for the actions failed to meet internationally recognised standards of necessity and proportionality, making the conduct of security forces excessive and unlawful .
Legal Representation
The case was pursued by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France) under its eRIGHTS project, an initiative supported by the European Union focused on defending human rights in the digital space . Oyekunle was represented by counsel Collins I. Maidoh-Anene .
Reactions
Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, described the ruling as a significant victory for press freedom and digital rights . She stated 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" .
Oyekunle welcomed the judgment, describing it as a victory not just for himself but for all journalists and citizens committed to democratic values . He said, "The decision of the ECOWAS Court is not only about me; it is about every journalist, media worker, and Nigerian citizen who believes in the right to freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful civic participation" .
Significance
ASF France noted that the ruling "shields reporters from tech-based censorship and intimidation, puts security agencies on notice that targeting media practitioners during protests will attract accountability, and reaffirms the ECOWAS Court as a vital shield for civic space in the region" .
Human rights groups have expressed concern over attacks on journalists covering public demonstrations in Nigeria, warning that such incidents threaten press freedom and democratic accountability . The organisation stated it would continue to monitor Nigeria's compliance with the court's decision .
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