Abuja, Nigeria – June 27, 2025 — The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the immediate and unconditional release of Moses Abiodun, a Nigerian businessman who has been held in detention for 16 years.
Delivering judgment in Abuja, the regional court ruled that Abiodun’s prolonged incarceration was a gross violation of his fundamental human rights, including his right to liberty, fair hearing, and freedom from unlawful detention, as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international human rights treaties.
The court also declared that the Nigerian government had failed to justify Abiodun’s continuous detention and violated due process, as he was never properly tried or convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction during his 16-year incarceration.
According to the court’s ruling, Abiodun’s detention constitutes an “arbitrary deprivation of liberty,” and the Nigerian authorities were ordered to release him without further delay and ensure he receives adequate compensation for the unjust hardship suffered.
Human rights activists have hailed the ruling as a victory for justice and a strong message against prolonged, arbitrary detentions in the region.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to the court’s verdict.