- Compensation for Unlawful Detention: The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government to pay ₦10m in compensation to Glory Okolie for her unlawful detention and maltreatment by the police.
- Human Rights Violations: The court ruled that Okolie’s prolonged detention without judicial oversight violated her fundamental rights to liberty and a fair trial.
- Measures to Prevent Future Violations: The government was also directed to implement measures to prevent future human rights violations.
- Case Background: Okolie, a Nigerian student, was arrested on June 13, 2021, and detained without judicial authorization, denied legal representation, subjected to forced labor, and physically abused.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a landmark judgment, ordering the Federal Government to pay ₦10m in compensation to Glory Okolie for her unlawful detention and maltreatment by the police. Okolie, a Nigerian student, was arrested on June 13, 2021, and detained without judicial authorization. During her detention, she was denied legal representation, subjected to forced labor, and physically abused.
The court ruled that Okolie’s prolonged detention without judicial oversight violated her fundamental rights to liberty and a fair trial, as enshrined in Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter. The court described her treatment as a clear abuse of human rights.
In its defense, the Federal Government claimed that Okolie was associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, a group proscribed in Nigeria for alleged terrorist activities. However, the court dismissed this argument, emphasizing the need for safeguards to prevent a recurrence of such acts.
The judgment also stressed the importance of implementing measures to prevent future human rights violations. This ruling sets a significant precedent in the protection of human rights in Nigeria.
