The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government to pay ₦10 million in compensation to Glory Okolie for her unlawful detention and mistreatment by the police.
The judgment which was delivered on Thursday, November 21, 2024, instructed the government to take necessary measures to prevent future violations of human rights.
Okolie, a Nigerian student, was arrested on June 13, 2021, and held without judicial authorization. In a case filed by Okolie, along with the One Love Foundation and the Incorporated Trustees of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, it was disclosed that she was denied legal representation, subjected to forced labor, and physically abused while in detention.
The applicants argued that these actions violated the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Revised ECOWAS Treaty.They sought justice for the rights violations and compensation for the mistreatment Okolie endured.
In its defense, the Nigerian government claimed that Okolie had ties to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a group banned in Nigeria for alleged terrorist activities, and argued that her detention was necessary for national security.
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The case was overseen by a three-member panel consisting of Honourable Justice Ricardo Gonçalves as the presiding judge and judge rapporteur, along with Honourable Justice Sengu Koroma and Honourable Justice Edward Asante.
Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, who delivered the ruling, stated that Okolie’s prolonged detention without judicial oversight violated her fundamental rights to liberty and a fair trial, as outlined in Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter.
The court condemned her treatment as a clear violation of human rights.
“The court therefore ordered the government to pay ₦10 million in damages to Glory Okolie and to cease all forms of harassment against her. It also emphasized the importance of safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the statement read.
However, the court dismissed the claims of the two co-applicant NGOs due to procedural issues.
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