The ECOWAS Court has dismissed a suit filed by Nigerian citizen Chukwuemeka Edeh, who sought five million naira in damages for alleged unlawful detention and torture by the now-defunct Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Edeh had sought a default judgment against the Nigerian government for failing to defend the case, claiming violations of his human rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international treaties Nigeria is bound by. However, the court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Edward Asante, concluded that Edeh’s claims lacked sufficient evidence to substantiate his allegations.
The three-member panel, which included Justice Ricardo Gonçalves and Justice Dupe Atoki, acknowledged the court’s jurisdiction over the matter but emphasized that the application did not meet the necessary legal thresholds for a default judgment. Despite the admissibility of the case, Justice Asante stated that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove the torture claims.
Edeh, from Enugu State, had accused SARS officers of physical abuse, including tear-gassing, beatings, and forced confessions during his detention. Despite his claim that his rights were violated, the court ruled that the evidence provided did not justify the damages sought.
