The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has rejected a lawsuit filed against the Nigerian government regarding the assassination of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, the wife of M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The case was brought by three members of the Abiola family—Khalifa Abiola, Moriam Abiola, and Hadi Abiola—who alleged that the Nigerian government violated Kudirat’s fundamental human rights by failing to hold her killers accountable. Kudirat was assassinated in 1996 while advocating for her husband’s release from detention.
In its ruling on Friday, Judge Rapporteur Justice Edward Amoako Asante stated that the applicants lacked the legal capacity to sue, as they did not establish a direct relationship with Kudirat or present a legal mandate to act on behalf of her estate.
Despite dismissing the case for lack of legal standing, the court rejected Nigeria’s objection that the case was outside its jurisdiction. It affirmed its authority to hear human rights violation cases involving ECOWAS member states but clarified that it does not serve as an appellate court over national rulings.
The ruling, delivered by a panel of judges including Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma (Presiding), Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara, and Justice Edward Amoako Asante, declared the case inadmissible due to the applicants’ failure to prove their legal capacity to sue.
