APO 20: ECOWAS Court fixes May 10 for Judgement

Friday, 20th September 2013 will forever remain a nightmare to the victims and relatives of the deceased of the notorious shooting in the uncompleted building in Apo Legislative Quarter in Abuja by the officers and men of the State Security Service and the Nigerian Army. The residents of Apo Legislative Quarters woke up to the […]

Friday, 20th September 2013 will forever remain a nightmare to the victims and relatives of the deceased of the notorious shooting in the uncompleted building in Apo Legislative Quarter in Abuja by the officers and men of the State Security Service and the Nigerian Army.
The residents of Apo Legislative Quarters woke up to the horror of gunshots in an uncompleted building around the area of an alleged Boko Haram hideout by the combined operatives of the SSS and the Nigerian Army.  The statement issued by the then Head of Public Relations of the Department of the State Security Services, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, was that the raid by the joint task force was carried out after a receiving a tip-off from suspected Boko Haram member in their custody that a cache of arms was buried in the uncompleted building at Apo in Abuja. The raid claimed eight lives with about 14 people suffering several gunshot wounds.
The DSS justified the raid on grounds that they were weeding the Federal Capital Territory and its environs of terrorists. The story of the exchange of gunfire was vehemently denied by the surviving victims, the families of those who lost their lives and some human rights groups also picked holes in the security agency’s narratives.
It turned out that all the victims were artisans who resided in the uncompleted building as daily tenants. As a result of the public outcry against the unjustified actions of the security agencies leading to the loss of lives and limbs of citizens, the National Human Rights Commission launched an investigation into the matter and eventually recommended for payment of compensation to the victims but the Federal Government decided to approach Federal High Court to quash the decision of the National Human Rights Commission. The matter is still dragging at the Federal High Court with no end in sight.
The victims in search for succour also approached the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. The Community Court heard arguments on 7th February 2015 and 30th November, 2015 and the case was adjourned for judgment. Unfortunately the case has suffered several adjournments which has dampened the spirits of the victims who are anxious to get justice in the matter. Mall Ibrahim Mohammed who is the 5th Applicant in the case, an indigene of Zamfara State,  suffered multiple fractures in his knees. He told our correspondent that he hopes that the matter will be concluded soonest as they are tired of the adjournments which seems unending. One of the Counsel to the Applicants, is quoted to have said that though the case has suffered several adjournments, it is in the interest of justice that the matter is resolved soon as justice delayed is justice denied. The ECOWAS Court on its part has now issued a hearing notice to the parties directing them to come for the judgment of the case on the 10th May, 2016.