The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Nigerian government to pay N30 million in damages to Glory Okolie, a woman who was illegally detained for nine months by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police. The judgment, delivered on Thursday, follows the court’s ruling in a case where the government was found to have violated Okolie’s fundamental human rights by holding her without trial.
The case, which has drawn significant attention to the abuse of power by law enforcement agencies, centered around the unlawful detention of Okolie, who was arrested on June 17, 2021, and kept in custody under conditions described as enslavement. Okolie was held without legal justification for 248 days, finally being released on March 23, 2022.
Human rights lawyer Samuel Ihensekhien, who represented Okolie, argued that the Nigerian government had failed to provide any legal basis for her extended detention, in clear violation of Nigerian law, constitutional rights, and international human rights standards. During the proceedings, it was revealed that the government had admitted to the illegal detention but failed to present adequate defense or justification for their actions.
In a related development, the court had previously awarded a sum of N1 million in 2022 for the government's delays in responding to the case. The Nigerian government's lack of cooperation in filing necessary documents and delaying the legal process led to this additional monetary penalty.
Okolie's detention began when she was allegedly arrested by IRT officers and forced to work as a domestic servant. Despite her release in 2022, her legal representatives, including Ihensekhien and One Love Foundation, a non-governmental organization advocating for justice, pursued further legal action. They initially sought N100 billion in damages for the violation of Okolie’s rights, although the ECOWAS Court ultimately ruled for a lesser amount of N30 million in reparations.
The court’s ruling sends a strong message regarding the Nigerian government’s responsibility to uphold the rights of its citizens and hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct. It also highlights the need for reforms within the Nigerian Police Force and the judicial system to prevent similar violations in the future.
The case has sparked widespread discussions about human rights abuses in Nigeria, particularly in relation to the treatment of detainees by security agencies. Many are calling for more stringent oversight of police actions and better enforcement of laws protecting citizens’ rights.
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