By Ayo Kehinde
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay ₦10 million in damages to journalist and media executive, Jide Oyekunle, after finding the country liable for his assault, unlawful detention, and the seizure of his mobile phone while covering the nationwide “End Bad Governance” protests in Abuja.
The landmark judgment, delivered on June 22, 2026, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, was secured by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), also known as Lawyers Without Borders France, under its eRIGHTS project funded by the European Union to promote and protect human rights in the digital space.
The case stemmed from an incident that occurred in August 2025 at Eagle Square, Abuja, where Oyekunle, Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), was allegedly assaulted by police officers while carrying out his professional duties.
According to court records, the journalist was live-reporting the nationwide protests when security operatives physically attacked him, detained him, and confiscated his mobile phone, thereby interrupting his coverage of the demonstration.
In its judgment, the regional court held that the actions of the Nigerian authorities violated Oyekunle’s right to freedom of expression and access to information as guaranteed under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The court noted that the suppression of his live broadcast and the seizure of the device used in gathering and disseminating information constituted an unlawful interference with journalistic activities and the public’s right to receive information.
It further ruled that the assault and detention infringed on his rights to personal liberty and human dignity under Articles 6 and 5 of the African Charter, while the temporary confiscation of his mobile phone amounted to a violation of his right to property protected by Article 14.
The judges also dismissed Nigeria’s justification for the actions of the security personnel, holding that the measures adopted failed to meet the internationally recognised standards of necessity and proportionality.
According to the court, the conduct of the security operatives was excessive, unlawful, and inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under regional human rights instruments.
Reacting to the judgment, Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, described the ruling as a significant victory for press freedom and digital rights in West Africa.
“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.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu stated that the decision contributes to a growing body of ECOWAS Court jurisprudence aimed at protecting journalists, civic actors, and human rights defenders who document protests and events of public interest.
