The ECOWAS Court of Justice has held the Nigerian government accountable for the unlawful detention and mistreatment of a Nigerian student, Glory Okolie.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the court awarded ₦10 million in compensation to Okolie and issued directives aimed at protecting her human rights.
According to a statement from the court’s Communication Division, the case stemmed from Okolie’s detention by the Nigerian police on June 13, 2021.
She was reportedly held without judicial authorization, denied access to legal counsel, subjected to forced labor, and physically abused during her incarceration.
The applicants, including Glory Okolie, One Love Foundation, and the Incorporated Trustees of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, argued that her treatment violated provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, and other human rights frameworks. They sought declarations of Nigeria’s unlawful actions, reparations, and assurances of non-repetition.
The Nigerian government, however, denied the allegations, claiming that Okolie was linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group designated as a terrorist organization. Authorities argued that her detention was necessary for national security.
Delivering the judgment, Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, the Judge Rapporteur, concluded that Okolie’s extended detention without judicial approval violated Article 7 of the African Charter, infringing on her right to a fair trial. Furthermore, her deprivation of liberty without a legal basis was deemed a breach of Article 6 of the same charter.
“The court found that the Nigerian government failed to justify the prolonged detention and mistreatment of the applicant, constituting a grave violation of her fundamental human rights,” the statement read.
Consequently, the court ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay Glory Okolie ₦10 million as compensation for the violations she endured. Additionally, it mandated the government to cease any harassment against her and ensure that such acts do not occur in the future.
However, the court dismissed the claims brought by the co-applicant organizations, citing procedural issues.
The judgment was rendered by a three-member panel, comprising Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves (presiding judge and judge rapporteur), Honourable Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, and Honourable Justice Edward Amoako Asante.
