DJ Switch, an activist, believes the ECOWAS community court of justice’s ruling that the federal government violated human rights at the #EndSARS protest in October 2020 provides hope for truth and justice.
The court decided on Wednesday that the Nigerian government’s conduct, particularly its disproportionate use of force at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, violated key international human rights standards, including Articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The court ordered the Nigerian government to pay N2 million in compensation to each of the victims identified in the lawsuit.
DJ Switch filed the lawsuit alongside Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka.
In response to the decision, Switch, the music jockey, stated that the court date was “one of the best days of my life since the horrific event”.
“Not once did I waver in my shared experience of the traumatic events of the 20th of October, 2020 but to sit in court and listen to the esteemed judges, based on the facts give a ruling in our favour not only reaffirms what I know and experienced but makes this one of the best days of my life since the horrific event,” she said.
“This judgment becomes a glimmer of hope that we can indeed head in the right direction in service of the truth and justice.”
The radio jockey had captured the infamous shooting of EndSARS demonstrators at the Lekki tollgate. She too went into hiding after receiving purported threats to her life for documenting the military crackdown.
Bolaji Gabari, lead lawyer for the applicants, praised the decision as “a significant victory for the #EndSARS movement”.
“We urge the Nigerian government to comply fully with the court’s orders and take immediate steps to address the systemic issues identified in the judgment.”
Also reacting to the judgment, Nelson Olanipekun, executive director at Gavel, said, the judgment in favour of the victims “is a powerful affirmation of justice and a significant step towards healing and accountability for the Lekki tollgate tragedy”.
