PRESS STATEMENT
Take It Back Movement Raises Concerns Over Apparent Breakdown of Domestic Remedies in Detention Case of Child Rights Activist, Urges ECOWAS Court to Deliver Ruling on Interim Measures
Abuja, Nigeria – May 13, 2026
The Delta State Chapter of the Take It Back Movement has expressed serious concern over what it described as an apparent breakdown and ineffectiveness of available domestic remedies in the prolonged detention and prosecution of Nigerian child rights advocate and activist, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.
The organization consequently called on the to urgently schedule and deliver its ruling on the application for interim measures argued on January 29, 2026, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/28/25 filed against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the Movement, the continued delay in resolving pending constitutional, administrative, and judicial issues surrounding the prosecution of the activist has increasingly reinforced concerns regarding access to effective remedies, procedural fairness, judicial accountability, and protection of fundamental rights within Nigeria’s domestic legal system.
The call follows an official correspondence issued by the Registry of the ECOWAS Court acknowledging receipt of an application seeking accelerated scheduling of the pending ruling concerning the activist’s detention and ongoing prosecution.In a letter dated March 23, 2026, addressed to counsel for the applicant, Barrister Andrew N. Elekeokwuri Esq., the Registry confirmed receipt of the request for urgent scheduling of the matter for ruling and assured parties that they would be duly notified once a date is fixed by the Court.
The matter presently before the regional court centers on allegations of child trafficking, unlawful detention, abuse of prosecutorial powers, judicial misconduct, denial of fair hearing, and violations of fundamental human rights allegedly arising from the prosecution of Comrade Aghogho on cyberstalking charges before the Federal High Court, Warri Judicial Division.
Comrade Aghogho, a human rights defender, child rights advocate, and anti-child trafficking campaigner, is seeking interim protective measures from the ECOWAS Court, including his immediate release from detention at the Nigerian Correctional Service Custodial Centre in Warri, Delta State.
According to court filings, the applicant contends that the criminal proceedings instituted against him were commenced without the constitutionally required consent and authorization of the Attorney-General of the Federation, thereby rendering the prosecution unlawful and unconstitutional.The filings further allege that the applicant’s bail was revoked on June 16, 2025, based on allegations linked to a media publication which he has consistently denied authoring or publishing.
In the applications before the Court, the applicant also raised allegations of judicial irregularities, including alleged insertion of an unfiled document into court records, denial of fair hearing, procedural misconduct, abuse of court process, and alleged collusion involving certain judicial and prosecutorial actors connected to the matter.The applicant maintains that his continued detention violates his rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression, and protection under regional and international human rights instruments binding on the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Movement stated that despite repeated applications, petitions, protests, reassignment requests, and complaints allegedly submitted before domestic judicial and oversight authorities, no effective resolution has been achieved concerning the activist’s detention, reassignment application, allegations of procedural irregularities, or petitions relating to judicial conduct connected to the matter.
According to the organization, recent proceedings before Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Warri Judicial Division, have further intensified public concerns regarding the effectiveness and neutrality of available domestic remedies.
The Movement referenced proceedings conducted on May 12, 2026, during which the court reportedly declined to proceed with hearing or transfer of the pending cyberstalking case while reassignment requests and petitions concerning the matter allegedly remain unresolved before judicial authorities.
The organization further noted that petitions reportedly pending before the and the unresolved reassignment request allegedly acknowledged by the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice , have continued without definitive administrative resolution despite repeated adjournments and prolonged detention of the applicant.
According to the Movement, the cumulative effect of these developments has increasingly created the impression that available domestic mechanisms have failed to provide timely, effective, impartial, and adequate remedies capable of protecting the applicant’s constitutional rights and ensuring public confidence in the administration of justice.
The organization maintained that the circumstances surrounding the matter underscore the importance of regional judicial intervention, particularly where allegations concerning unlawful detention, procedural irregularities, abuse of prosecutorial powers, and judicial misconduct remain unresolved within domestic institutions.
The Take It Back Movement therefore reiterated its demand for the immediate release of Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho and urged the ECOWAS Court to urgently fix a date for ruling on the pending application for interim measures in view of the applicant’s continued detention and the serious constitutional and human rights concerns raised in the proceedings.
The organization further called on Nigerian judicial and governmental authorities to urgently restore public confidence in the administration of justice through transparent, impartial, and expeditious handling of all pending legal and constitutional issues connected to the matter.
The Movement also renewed its call for comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening judicial accountability, prosecutorial transparency, whistleblower protection, institutional oversight, child protection enforcement, and effective access to remedies within Nigeria’s justice system.
Signed
Comrade Ochuko Etu
State Coordinator,
Take It Back Movement,
Delta State Chapter
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