Violation of IDPs rights: ECOWAS Court dismisses suit against FG

Justice Micah Wrights of ECOWAS Community Court on Wednesday in Abuja, dismissed the suit against the Federal Government over the violation of the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The plaintiff, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP), in suit no ECW/CCJ/APP/31/15, asked the court to hold the Federal Government responsible for the violation of the human rights of IDPs.

According to the plaintiff, an NGO, over three million IDPs affected by the ongoing campaign against Boko Haram, have been neglected and unprotected.

The plaintiff alleged that government attitude contributed to the increase in the plight of the IDPs.

Delivering his judgment, Wrights said that under Article 1 to 5 of the African Charter, the state is under obligation to ensure the full protection of the rights of its citizens.

However, Wrights said that the plaintiff failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt his allegation against the Government of Nigeria.
The defendant, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Abubakar Musa, presented before the court part of government’s programme of activities aimed at protecting the IDPs.

The Judge, therefore, dismissed the case, saying that the plaintiff lacked the necessary records to prove its case.
Later in his reaction, Musa expressed satisfaction with the Judgment, describing it as a civil and in-depth judgment given in the best interest of Nigeria.

He, however, expressed disappointment that plaintiff was absent from court.