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ECOWAS Court Awards Igboho 20M CFA Against Benin Republic Over Rights Violation
Igboho and his wife Ropo were arrested on July 20, 2021, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained
Abuja, Nigeria –The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has directed the government of the Republic of Benin to compensate Yoruba nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, with a sum of 20 million CFA for his unlawful detention and the violation of his fundamental human rights.
The court, which convened in Abuja, Nigeria, delivered its judgment on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for justice in cases involving human rights violations within the West African region.
The ruling followed allegations that Sunday Igboho was arrested and detained by the Benin Republic authorities without due process, sparking concerns among human rights advocates and supporters of the Yoruba activist.
In its decision, the ECOWAS Court declared that the government of the Republic of Benin must ensure the payment of the awarded sum to Chief Sunday Adeyemo within the next three months.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara, Sengu M. Koroma, and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro GONÇALVES, in matter marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/15/22 Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) vs. Republic of Benin, the court also ordered the Francophone country to comply with its order to pay 20 million CFA to Adeyemo within three months and also report back to the court with the evidence of payment.
Counsel for the applicant (Adeyemo) includes Tosin Ojaomo, Aderemilekun Omojola Esq., Dr Janet Fashakin Esq., and Irene Aclombessi, who represented the Republic of Benin.
The judgment followed the application brought before the court by Adeyemo against the defendant (Benin Republic), challenging his arrest and detention in the French-speaking country on July 21, 2021.
The application was filed before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, on February 10, 2022.
According to the court documents, “Orders sought wherefore Chief Adeyemo prays for the following from this Honourable Court: 1 “Pursuant to Article 59 of Rules of Procedure, an expedited procedure and hearing regarding the imprisonment and release of Chief Adeyemo;
“…2)An Order for the immediate and unconditional release of Chief Adeyemo, along with his Nigerian passport, pending litigation and determination of damages, and (3) Such orders as this honourable court may deem fit.”
It would be recalled that Igboho and his wife Ropo were arrested on July 20, 2021, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
Igboho had fled Nigeria after a combined team of the Nigeria Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) raided his residence, located around the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital, on July 1, 2021.
