ECOWAS Court Rejects NGOs’ Suit Against Nigeria Over Devastating Lagdo Dam Floods

The ECOWAS Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two NGOs against Nigeria over the devastation caused by the 2012 and 2022 Lagdo Dam floodings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The case was brought by the Incorporated Trustees of Prince and Princess Charles Offokaja Foundation, Nigeria, and its Swiss counterpart, seeking to hold Nigeria responsible for failing to construct a dam in Adamawa to mitigate flooding from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.

The applicants argued that the government’s inaction resulted in widespread destruction, loss of lives, displacement, and economic hardship across 14 states. They claimed that a dam could have prevented the disaster while also serving as a source of irrigation and electricity generation.

However, delivering the ruling, Justice Sengu Koroma dismissed the case due to a lack of legal standing. The court ruled that the Swiss NGO lacked the authority to file the case in ECOWAS Court, while the Nigerian NGO failed to meet the requirements for public interest litigation.

“Although the applicants referenced a broad category of victims, the court cannot identify specific individuals whose rights were allegedly violated,” Justice Koroma stated.

Nigeria, in its defense, outlined its previous efforts, including a 1982 feasibility study and a 2024 Senate resolution for the dredging of the Rivers Benue and Niger. The government maintained that it had taken necessary steps to manage flooding and strengthen cooperation with Cameroon.