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
on an uncompleted building at Apo Area of Abuja.
The Economic Community of
West African States, ECOWAS court has slammed a fine of $3.3 million on Nigeria
over the extra-judicial killing of eight citizens in the Apo District of Abuja,
the Federal Capital Territory.
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.
The victims were identified
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.
A non-governmental
organization, The Incorporated Trustees of Fiscal and Civil Right Enlightment
Foundation, had on behalf of the deceased, dragged Nigeria, the Army and
Department of State Service, before the regional court to challenge the
legality of the killing of the eight commercial motorcyclists and the injuring
of others when the security-men invaded their apartment.
In the judgment of ECOWAS
Court delivered by presiding Justice, Friday Chijioke Nwoke, Nigeria was found
liable of brutal killing of defenceless citizens, contrary to the provision of
local and international law on the fundamental rights of citizens to life.
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