Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, has ordered the Federal government of Nigeria to pay a sum of N10 million to the family of Mrs. Salome Acheju Abuh, a former Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) woman leader, who was burnt alive in her Ochadamu home in Kogi State, during the last governorship election in the state.
Newsonline reports that ECOWAS Court held that the Federal government failed in its responsibility to save the life of the deceased while she was being attacked by political thugs.
The ECOWAS Courts ruled that by virtue of the presence of the Nigeria Police a security agency of the Federal government on the day of the attack and failed to act to save the woman’s life, the President Buhari led Federal government failed in its responsibility to protect the life of its citizen.
In a judgment on the fundamental rights of the deceased to life, the regional court held the Federal Government liable for neglect and failure in its obligations to protect the life of the deceased.
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In the judgment delivered via Zoom, a three-man panel of justices of the court held that security operatives especially failed to act and save the deceased when she was being attacked despite their presence.
The court consequently issued an order to the Federal Government to immediately set up a high-powered panel to investigate the circumstances that led to the killing of the woman, fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and punish them accordingly.
The Court held that the deceased would have been saved if the police had discharged their constitutional obligations on behalf of the Federal Government.
Family members of the deceased, who instituted the suit through their counsel, Dr Daniel Makolo, are Simeon Sheidu Abuh, Ogbadu David Abuh and Daniel Achimugu.
The Federal Government was represented in the suit by Mrs Maimuna Shiru.
The three Justices who delivered the unanimous judgment against the Nigerian Government are Edward Amoako Asante, Gberi-Be Ouattara and Dupe Atoki.
Recall that Mrs. Salome Acheju Abuh, a former Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) woman leader, was burnt alive in her Ochadamu home in Kogi State, during the last governorship election in the state.
The ECOWAS Court ruling would be the second ruling of the West African regional court against President Muhammdu Buhari-led Federal government of Nigeria on issues that concerned citizens’ rights abuse and protection.
The first ruling against the Federal government by ECOWAS Court was against the ban of social networking Twitter.
