Amnesty International on Wednesday hailed the ruling of the ECOWAS Court, which mandated the Federal Government to initiate a new inquiry into human rights abuses during the October 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations in Nigeria.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to human rights principles and holding accountable those responsible for violations.
“Amnesty International welcomes the ruling of the Court that orders the government of Nigeria to conduct a new investigation of rights violations that occurred during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests across Nigeria, in line with its duty to promote and protect human rights under international law, prosecute perpetrators, and provide redress to victims.
“In response to applicants’ Catherine Udeh & Ors case against the harassment and brutality of the notorious and disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) the ECOWAS Court of Justice delivered its judgment today finding violations of the applicants’ right to liberty and security, freedom of expression and association, right to freedom of assembly and effective remedy.
“Amnesty International was a friend of the court in the case and made submissions that (1) the right to life is violated by use of lethal force on peaceful protesters, (2) that freedom of peaceful assembly is violated by the unlawful dispersal of peaceful assemblies (3) and that the individuals whose rights have been violated have the right to effective remedy.”
The ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja declared on Wednesday that Nigeria had infringed upon the rights of citizens during the 2020 demonstrations against police brutality, commonly known as the EndSARS protests.
The protests spread across various Nigerian cities in October 2020, with the most notable incidents occurring at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State, where security forces fired upon peaceful demonstrators.
In its ruling, the ECOWAS Court affirmed that the rights of three Nigerians—Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi, and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka—were violated during their participation in the Lekki Toll Gate protest.