ECOWAS Court Awards Journalist ₦10m Damages Over Assault During #EndBadGovernance Protest
Press freedom received a significant boost as the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled against Nigeria for violating the rights of a journalist assaulted and detained while covering a public protest.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has awarded ₦10 million in damages to journalist Jide Oyekunle over his unlawful arrest, assault and seizure of property by police officers during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest in Abuja.
In its judgment delivered on June 22, 2026, the regional court held the Federal Republic of Nigeria liable for violating Oyekunle’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, dignity and property following his arrest at Eagle Square on August 1, 2024.
The case, filed by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France) under its EU-supported eRIGHTS project, challenged the actions of armed police officers who allegedly assaulted the journalist, damaged his camera and seized his mobile phone while he was reporting live from the protest.
The Court ruled that the detention and confiscation of his phone were excessive, unjustified and contrary to international law, noting that the actions disrupted his journalistic work and suppressed public access to information.
Reacting to the judgment, Oyekunle described the ruling as a victory for press freedom and democratic accountability, stressing that journalists must be able to perform their duties without intimidation or harassment.
Avocats Sans Frontières France said the decision reinforces legal protections for journalists in the digital age and sends a strong warning against attacks on media practitioners covering matters of public interest.
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