- ECOWAS Court of Justice dismisses lawsuit filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
- Lawsuit sought N50 million compensation from Federal Government for each victim of Abuja-Kaduna train attack
- Court cites lack of “victim status” requirement necessary for litigation under Article 10(d) of the Protocol
- SERAP argued Nigeria’s alleged lack of preventive measures violated passengers’ rights to life, security, and dignity
- Over 150 individuals still unaccounted for after the March 2022 terrorist attack
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), seeking N50 million compensation from the Federal Government for each victim of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack ¹. The attack, which occurred in March 2022, resulted in fatalities, injuries, and abductions, with over 150 individuals still unaccounted for.
The court ruled that SERAP’s claims were inadmissible due to the lack of “victim status” requirement necessary for litigation under Article 10(d) of the Protocol. SERAP had argued that Nigeria’s alleged lack of preventive measures violated the rights of passengers to life, security, and dignity
The court recognized its jurisdiction to hear the case but found that it did not meet the criteria for a public interest action. The victims of the attack were identifiable individuals rather than an indeterminate public group, making the claim unsuitable as a public interest litigation.
In March 2022, terrorists bombed an Abuja-Kaduna railway near Rigasa, Kaduna, attacking over 970 passengers onboard. SERAP filed the case following the attack, alleging human rights violations and seeking compensation for each passenger and victim’s family.
