ECOWAS Court Fines Nigeria $3.3 million Over Extra Judicial Killings.

                                


The Economic Community of West African States, Court has passed a judgement ordering the Federal Government  og Nigeria to  Pay $3.3 million over extra judicial killing of 8 Nigerians in Apo district of Abuja,


The eight Nigerians killed when the security personnel opened fire on them were later found to be commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders who were taking refuge in the uncompleted building as a result of skyrocketing cost of house rent in the capital city.
Those killed are Nura Abdullahi, Ashiru Musa, Abdullahi Manmman, Buhari Ibrahim, Suleiman Ibrahim, Ahmadu Musa, Nasir Adamu and Musa Yobe, while the 11 injured include Muttaka Abubakar, Sani Abdulrahman, Nuhu Ibrahim, Ibrahim Mohammed,   Ibrahim Aliyu, Yahaya Bello, Abubakar Auwal, Yusuf Abubakar, Ibrahim Bala, Murtala Salihu and Sanni Usman.

The regional court ordered the country to pay  compensatory damages of $200,000 to each of the family of the deceased killed and $150,000 to each of the injured by a combined team of soldiers and operatives of the Department of State  Service, DSS, during a raid of an uncompleted building  at Apo Area of Abuja.
on behalf of the deceased, A Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, The Incorporated Trustees of Fiscal and Civil Right Enlightment Foundation dragged Nigeria, the Army and Department of State Service, before regional court to challenge the legality of the killing of the  eight commercial motorcyclists and the injuring of others when the securitymen invaded their apartment.

In the judgment of ECOWAS Court delivered by presiding Justice, FridayChijioke Nwoke, Nigeria was found liable of brutal killing of defenseless citizens, contrary to the provision of local and international law on the fundamental rights of citizens to life.