Torture: ECOWAS Court Awards N60m against Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

ECOWAS Court has awarded N60 million in damages against the Nigerian government for the torture of Sunday Olaniran Ayodeji by a police officer.

Ayodeji, leg was amputated as a result of gunshot by a Police officer in Kaduna State and had his possessions including a car and the sum of N900,000 confiscated by the same police officer who inflicted the permanent injury on him.

Ayodeji’s case was handled at the court on pro-bono basis by Avocats Sans Frontieres France under the European Union (EU) and Agence française de Développement (AFD) funded SAFE Project

A statement yesterday said: “Avocats Sans Frontieres France (Lawyers without Borders France) is delighted to announce that the ECOWAS Court on the 10th of July, 2023 held the Nigerian government responsible for the torture of Mr. Sunday Olaniran Ayodeji whose leg was amputated due to a gunshot by a Police officer in Kaduna State, Nigeria. 

Mr. Ayodeji’s possessions including a car and the sum of N900,000 were also confiscated unlawfully by the same officer.

“The tortured victim whose case was handled on pro-bono basis by Avocats Sans Frontieres France under the European Union (EU) and Agence française de Développement (AFD) funded SAFE Project was awarded N60 million with an order for the immediate return of his confiscated possessions. The Nigerian government has also been ordered by the Court to internally investigate the human rights breach of Mr. Sunday Olaniran Ayodeji.

“Avocats Sans Frontieres France commends the ECOWAS Court for its judgment on this case and urges the Nigerian Government to uphold the directives of the Court. ASF France is also delighted that this judgment is coming on the heels of the commemoration of the 2023 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (IDSVT), which re- emphasises the need for collaborative efforts amongst all stakeholders of the criminal justice system to establish a zero-tolerance culture to torture in Nigeria.”

Speaking to the members of the press  in Abuja, Nigeria, the Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria Mrs. Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said: “We are delighted that despite all challenges and legal hurdles faced by our legal team in pursuit of justice in this case, justice was served. We are optimistic that this will serve as a deterrent against the systemic use of torture in Nigeria. The amount awarded by the Court will not restore our client who has been permanently disabled by torture, but it has given hope to not just Mr. Ayodeji but other torture survivors that justice is possible even against powerful governments and institutions.”

 Reacting to the ruling of the ECOWAS Court  Ayodeji said: “My joy knows no bounds and I feel fulfilled and relieved from the inner pain that I have carried for so long due to the great injustice done to me which led to the loss of my leg. I am very grateful to Avocats Sans Frontieres France who provided a platform for me to obtain redress. I am also happy for what this judgment means for me and other victims of torture in Nigeria.

“The case was handled by Avocats Sans Frontieres France under the auspices of its Strengthening the National Actors and Advocating for Ending Severe Human Rights Violation (SAFE) project funded by the European Union and Agence française de Développement (AFD) aimed at ending human rights violations of torture, extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detention in Nigeria. We believe this symbolic case has contributed to the development of the jurisprudence of the regional court on torture and we continue to stand in solidarity with all victims of torture and reemphasize the fact that torture remains a crime against humanity all over the world.”