The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has directed the Nigerian government to pay N10 million in damages following the unlawful arrest, physical attack, and property seizure involving Independent Newspaper journalist Jide Oyekunle.
The ruling was finalized on June 22, 2026, in response to a case brought forward by Avocats Sans Frontières France under their EU-backed eRIGHTS initiative. The incident occurred on August 1, 2024, at Abuja’s Eagle Square, where police officers acting under orders from former FCT Commissioner of Police Benneth Igweh assaulted Mr. Oyekunle, damaged his camera, and confiscated his phone while he reported on the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
Legal counsel Collins I. Maidoh-Anene successfully argued that the detention and property seizure were unjustified violations of international law. The court concluded that these actions breached the journalist’s rights to personal liberty, dignity, freedom of expression, and property ownership as outlined in the African Charter. The bench noted that the state’s actions could not be justified by necessity and served to censor press coverage.
Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, country director for Avocats Sans Frontières France, stated that the verdict reinforces protection for digital reporting tools and establishes that security forces will be held accountable for targeting media workers. Mr. Oyekunle welcomed the decision, characterizing it as a vital victory for democratic values, press freedom, and the right of journalists to perform their duties without state-sponsored intimidation.
