The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay 75,000 dollars (N27 million) as compensation in a case of violation of right to life.
Presiding judge, Justice Friday Nwoke in his verdict on Tuesday ordered that the compensation be paid to Wing Commander Danladi Angulu-Kwasu (rtd) for the death of his son, El-Shadai in Kaduna State.
The applicant had alleged that his late 19-year-old son, who was a cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), died on April 30, 2015 during a water-manship training.
According to him, the deceased was forced to take part in the exercise even when he mentioned that he could not swim.
He said relevant authorities failed to investigate the matter or prosecute officials accordingly, adding that his son was pushed into Kangimi Dam, a 100-metre-deep lake, where the training was held, without the necessary safety equipment.
In his final judgment, the court ruled that negligence and incompetence of the authorities was unlawful and a violation of the right to life of the applicant in line with international laws.
“The court orders the defendant to pay 75, 000 dollars as compensation for unlawful deprivation of the applicant’s life,” the judge held.
The court further ordered that the Federal Government should investigate the matter and prosecute those found culpable.
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