The ECOWAS Court of Justice has directed the Nigerian government to immediately release Moses Abiodun, a businessman held without trial for nearly 16 years, and awarded him ₦20 million in compensation.
- Abiodun was arrested by SARS in 2008 and has been held without formal charges or trial since then.
- The court ruled his prolonged detention violated multiple international human rights conventions.
- Nigeria contested the claim, but the court ruled it admissible and declared the detention unlawful.
For almost 16 years, Moses Abiodun lived in legal limbo — detained, forgotten, and denied justice. His case reflects the broader failures in Nigeria’s criminal justice system and the devastating human cost of prolonged pre-trial detention.
Will this landmark ruling by ECOWAS push Nigeria to reform its justice system and curb unlawful detentions? Accountability must follow.
