By Temitope Ponle
Abuja – Fifteen alleged human rights violations cases will be heard by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in December according to the record of the Registry of the Court.
This is contained in a statement signed by Ms Elohor Ovadje, Information Officer of ECOWAS Court, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ovadje stated that judgment would be delivered in four of the cases, while rulings would be delivered in three others.
In one of the cases ECW/CCJ/APP/28/15, two Nigerians are asking that the court hold the government of Nigeria liable for the violation of the fundamental rights of the victims of the 2001 and 2011 violent crisis in Jos, Plateau.
Akungwang Sampson and another, who filed the suit on behalf of the victims, alleged that the government failed to secure and protect the lives and properties of the victims.
The applicants also claimed that the government failure to implement the report of the panel of inquiry has resulted in emotional, economic and psychological trauma for the victims.
Among the reliefs being sought is a declaration by the court holding the government liable for breach of its obligations and N10 million in compensation.
Another case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/26/15 filed by two Civil Society Organisations alleged the violation of the human rights of Mary Sunday, who was physically beaten, dragged on the floor and bathed with boiling stew by her fiancé.
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre and Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa filed the suit on behalf of the victim and claimed that the victim was burnt from an exploding stove during the encounter.
They further alleged that police investigations revealed that the victim intentionally inflicted the burns on herself, and that all efforts to re-open the case had been unsuccessful.
Relying on international legal instruments, they averred that she was a victim of gender-based violence and discrimination against women.
They are asking the court to order the defendant to conduct an independent investigation and sought N20 million as compensation for damages.
The court fixed December 7 for ruling on the case.
The court also fixed December 6 to deliver judgment in another suit ECW/CCJ/APP/23/15.
The case was filed by Mr Sahabi Moussa, a Nigerien.
Sahabi claimed he applied for the position of administrative head in Niger, but was denied the position following a conspiracy by the other applicants who submitted a petition against him.
This resulted in a court action that annulled his application.
He said that the annulment without trial violated his right to fair hearing, and consequently sought orders of the ECOWAS Court to annul the purported election and award cost for reparation for the prejudice suffered.