The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), based in Abuja, has commenced proceedings on an urgent human rights petition brought by Nigerian child rights activist and whistleblower, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho. The suit, filed on June 19, 2025, under the case number ECW/CCJ/APP/28/25, demands immediate intervention over Aghogho’s alleged unlawful detention, judicial sabotage, and retaliatory acts linked to his anti-child trafficking whistleblowing efforts in Delta State.

The application, presented through legal counsel Andrew N. Elekeokwuri of Andrew Ewoh & Co., invokes multiple international and regional legal frameworks. These include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. The suit also cites provisions from the ECOWAS Court Supplementary Protocol and the Court’s Rules of Procedure.

Background to the Whistleblower’s Ordeal

Aghogho, formerly the State Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, was granted bail by the Federal High Court Warri on March 21, 2024, after satisfying all conditions. However, he was remanded in the Warri Custodial Centre on June 16, 2025, under controversial circumstances that he claims were retaliatory in nature. His re-detention, according to the court filings, followed his exposure of irregularities in Delta State’s child adoption system, which implicated several high-ranking judicial and government officials.

A crucial part of Aghogho’s petition is the allegation that a non-filed letter dated April 8, 2024, authored by state prosecutor J.A. Amahi, was unlawfully inserted into his court records. This letter, Aghogho claims, questioned the validity of his surety despite an earlier court ruling affirming it. He further alleges that Justice M.I. Sani—now serving on the Court of Appeal—and Deputy Chief Registrar Pius Iorzua conspired to insert this letter without due process. The letter was neither filed properly nor served on Aghogho’s legal team, thereby denying him a fair chance to respond.

Bribery, Intimidation, and Judicial Misconduct

In addition to procedural irregularities, Aghogho accuses Deputy Chief Registrar Iorzua of soliciting and receiving a ₦500,000 bribe through an intermediary in exchange for facilitating bail processing. He also alleges that when a formal application to retrieve his bail documents was submitted by his former counsel, M.A. Iyoke, the court deliberately frustrated the process.

Tensions escalated when an online publication reported on June 15, 2025, that Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) had been correctly filed and served on the Delta State Attorney-General. The next day, Justice H.A. Nganjiwa revoked Aghogho’s bail, allegedly because he believed the whistleblower was behind the article. Aghogho denies this claim, asserting that the story relied exclusively on public court records as permitted by law under Section 102(a)(iii) of the Evidence Act and Section 260 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Aghogho also voiced serious concerns over his personal safety, stating that credible threats to his life had emerged while in custody. Moreover, he accused Justice Nganjiwa of unethical conduct, specifically for meeting ex parte with a key prosecution witness, S.B. Irabor, on June 16, 2025. A formal complaint was submitted to the National Judicial Council (NJC) the following day.

Constitutional Violations and Request for Urgent Relief

In his legal filing, Aghogho contends that his continued detention lacks a valid court order or prosecutorial motion, thus breaching his constitutional rights to liberty, fair hearing, and dignity. He warns that delay in addressing these injustices could result in irreparable harm.

To that end, the whistleblower seeks urgent interim measures from the ECOWAS Court, including:

• Immediate release from unlawful detention
• Protective orders ensuring his safety
• An injunction to prevent further intimidation or judicial sabotage

He has submitted supporting evidence, including:

• The contested unfiled letter from the Delta Ministry of Justice (Annexure C1C)
• Proof of proper service of Form 48 (Annexure C2C)
• Certified application for bail records (Annexure C3C)
• A copy of the online article allegedly used to justify his bail revocation (Annexure C4C)
• The formal petition to the NJC (Annexure C5C)

Broader Legal Action Targeting Child Rights Violations

This urgent application is part of a larger legal challenge initiated by Aghogho on June 11, 2025. In the broader suit, he contests not only his arrest and prolonged detention but also the constitutionality of the Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Law, 2024. He argues that the legislation retroactively legitimizes years of illicit adoptions and violates international child protection conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC).

In this broader lawsuit, Aghogho is seeking the following reliefs:

• Declaration that his arrest under the repealed Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act is unconstitutional
• Termination of criminal proceedings in Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022
• Launch of a multi-agency investigation into child trafficking activities in Delta State from 1991 to 2022
• Compensation of $100 million for unlawful detention and continued persecution

Regional Implications and Precedent

Legal observers suggest that the ECOWAS Court’s decision could set a landmark precedent in regional human rights law. If successful, Aghogho’s case could reinforce protections for whistleblowers and activists confronting entrenched systems of corruption and abuse across West Africa.

“This case is not just about one individual,” said a regional legal analyst. “It represents a litmus test for the ECOWAS Court’s commitment to upholding the rights of those who dare to expose structural injustice.”

The Court’s ruling in the coming weeks will likely have far-reaching implications—not only determining Aghogho’s immediate fate but also shaping the future of judicial accountability and whistleblower protection in the region.