DJ Switch speaks on ECOWAS court judgment on #EndSARS

DJ Switch, the activist, says the judgment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community court of justice — which found the federal government guilty of human rights abuses in its response to the #EndSARS protest in October 2020 — poses a glimmer of hope for truth and justice.

The court ruled on Wednesday that the Nigerian government’s actions, particularly its disproportionate use of force at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, breached several international human rights standards, including articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African charter on human and peoples’ rights.

The court mandated the Nigerian government to pay N2 million in compensation to each victim named in the suit.

The suit was filed by DJ Switch alongside Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka.

Reacting to the judgment, Switch, the disc jockey, said the date of the court judgment was “one of the best days of my life since the horrific event”.

“Not once did I waver in my shared experience of the traumatic events of the 20th of October, 2020 but to sit in court and listen to the esteemed judges, based on the facts give a ruling in our favour not only reaffirms what I know and experienced but makes this one of the best days of my life since the horrific event,” she said.

“This judgment becomes a glimmer of hope that we can indeed head in the right direction in service of the truth and justice.”

The disc jockey had filmed the infamous shooting of EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate. She also went into hiding over alleged threats to her life for recording the military crackdown.

On his part, Bolaji Gabari, lead counsel for the applicants, described the judgment as “a significant victory for the #EndSARS movement”.

“We urge the Nigerian government to comply fully with the court’s orders and take immediate steps to address the systemic issues identified in the judgment.”

Also reacting to the judgment, Nelson Olanipekun, executive director at Gavel, said, the judgment in favour of the victims “is a powerful affirmation of justice and a significant step towards healing and accountability for the Lekki tollgate tragedy”.