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Whistleblower Drags Nigeria To ECOWAS Court Over Child Trafficking, Others
Child rights activist and whistleblower, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, has dragged the Federal Republic of Nigeria before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, alleging persecution for exposing systemic child trafficking in Delta State.
Filed on June 11, 2025, and registered as ECW/CCJ/APP/28/25, the suit accuses Nigerian authorities of unlawfully detaining Aghogho and using repealed laws to suppress his efforts to uncover illegal adoption practices.
Represented by his counsel, Andrew Elekeokwuri, the activist is seeking justice for what he calls a “retaliatory and politically motivated” crackdown.
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According to the suit, Aghogho had published findings on social media exposing fraudulent adoption schemes allegedly sanctioned by Delta State officials.
Shortly after, on July 21, 2022, he was arrested and charged under Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, 2015—despite the fact that the provision had already been repealed by the time of his arrest.
He claims that following his arrest, he was held in detention for over 600 days at the Warri and Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centres.
During this period, he submitted a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation, urging an investigation into alleged misconduct by Delta State prosecutors.
“Despite acknowledging the petition, no protective or corrective measures were reportedly taken, and the prosecution persisted, allegedly relying on an outdated 2017 prosecutorial fiat,” the lawsuit states.
Aghogho contends that his arrest and continued prosecution were part of a broader effort to silence his advocacy. “Aghogho argues that his arrest and prosecution were illegal and retaliatory, aimed at silencing his advocacy and shielding those implicated in child trafficking.”
He further alleges that the recently enacted Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Law, 2024, which was signed on April 10, 2025, is an attempt to legitimise years of illegal adoptions carried out in the state.
“He also challenges the legality of the Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Law, 2024, signed into law on April 10, 2025, claiming it seeks to retroactively legitimise decades of illegal adoptions in contravention of federal laws and international treaties.”
Aghogho says child trafficking in Delta State was facilitated through the Ministry of Women Affairs between 1991 and 2022, but that repeated petitions to national institutions such as the National Assembly, DSS, EFCC, Nigeria Police, and the National Population Commission failed to result in any meaningful investigations or actions.
In his plea before the ECOWAS Court, Aghogho is asking for multiple forms of relief, including:
“Declare his arrest and prosecution under the repealed Cybercrime Act unlawful and a breach of his rights to freedom of expression under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
“Declare his prolonged detention of over 600 days as unlawful and arbitrary punishment, violating both domestic and international legal standards.”
“Declare his continued prosecution under a 2017 prosecutorial fiat as judicial harassment and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion in violation of fair trial standards.”
“Invalidate the Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Law, 2024, and declare it unconstitutional, ultra vires, and inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under the UNCRC and ACRWC.”
Additionally, the plaintiff wants the court to:
Halt the prosecution in Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022.
Revoke the prosecutorial fiat Delta officials relied upon.
“Order the Federal Government to initiate an impartial, multi-agency investigation into the disappearance and trafficking of children in Delta State between 1991 and 2022, and publish the findings within a defined timeframe.”
Compel the Delta State Police Commissioner to release records related to the transfer of children to the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs.
“Mandate the EFCC to conduct a forensic audit of all adoption-related accounts managed by the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, especially those held with Eco Bank and Zenith Bank.”
The court is also being asked to instruct the EFCC and the National Population Commission to make available all relevant records tied to adoption and financial dealings.
The whistleblower is seeking $100 million in damages for unlawful incarceration and breach of fundamental rights, along with protective measures for whistleblowers and child rights defenders going forward.
A notice signed by the ECOWAS Court’s Chief Registrar has directed the Nigerian government to respond within 30 days. Failure to do so could result in a default judgment.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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