ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria To Pay ₦5M For Police Torture

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the federal government to give Oluwatimilehin Adebayo N5 million compensation for the violation of his right to be free from torture. Justice Dupe Atoki gave the verdict on Thursday.

The court ordered the Nigerian government to investigate Adebayo’s torture as soon as possible, impartially, and effectively, and to file charges against those responsible.

Adebayo alleged in a complaint filed under the ECW/CCJ/APP/47/23 that Ogun State police badly tortured him, beating him with an axe handle and chaining his limbs to a pole.

He said that the incident caused him significant psychological distress as well as physical harm, including scrotal damage.

It added, “The Court noted that the torture was intentional and aimed at coercing Mr. Adebayo into signing a pre-written statement. Consequently, it ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay ₦5 million in compensation to the Applicant for the violation of his right to freedom from torture.

“It also ordered Nigeria to conduct a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation into the torture and prosecute those responsible.

“However, the Court dismissed the claim that the applicant’s right to a remedy had been violated, noting that there was no evidence the Applicant had formally reported the abuse to relevant authorities.”