Nigerian child rights advocate and whistleblower, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, has taken legal action against the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the ECOWAS Court of Justice. In suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/28/25, filed on June 11 through his lawyer Andrew Elekeokwuri, Aghogho alleges government complicity in systemic child trafficking and retaliation against whistleblowers.
The case centers on Aghogho’s 2022 arrest following his exposure of irregularities in adoption processes in Delta State. He was charged under the now-repealed Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, 2015, after posting findings on social media. He spent over 600 days in detention at Warri and Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centres.
Aghogho claims his arrest and prolonged detention were punitive measures aimed at silencing his advocacy. His legal team argues that the prosecution, which relied on a 2017 prosecutorial fiat, persisted despite his petitions to the Attorney-General and other authorities. The suit also challenges the legality of the Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Law, 2024, alleging it retroactively justifies decades of illegal adoptions.
Among the key allegations are:
- Government inaction on numerous petitions regarding child trafficking between 1991 and 2022, allegedly facilitated by the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs.
- Failure by federal agencies, including the National Assembly, DSS, EFCC, and Nigeria Police, to investigate the complaints.
- Institutional cover-up of unlawful adoptions.
Aghogho seeks wide-ranging reliefs from the ECOWAS Court, including:
- A declaration that his arrest and prosecution were unlawful and violated his rights to freedom of expression under international treaties.
- An order to end the ongoing criminal case (FHC/WR/92C/2022) and revoke the prosecutorial fiat used against him.
- A ruling declaring the 2024 Delta Child Rights law unconstitutional.
- Mandates for independent investigations and audits, including:
- A forensic audit of adoption-related accounts at Eco Bank and Zenith Bank.
- The release of records on child transfers by Delta State authorities.
- A multi-agency probe into child trafficking in Delta State, with findings made public.
He is also seeking $100 million in damages for unlawful detention and rights violations and calls for legal protections for whistleblowers and human rights defenders.
The ECOWAS Court has served the suit on the Attorney-General of the Federation and directed Nigeria to respond within 30 days. Failure to do so may result in a default judgment.
