The ECOWAS Court has reserved judgment in the case between Reverend (Dr.) John Joseph Hayab and the Federal Government of Nigeria, following a hearing on February 28, 2025. The case stems from the Kaduna State Government’s decision to demolish the only Christian worship center at Kaduna State University (KASU) and attempt to seize the Chapel of Goodnews, which shares a boundary with the university.
Reverend Hayab, former Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), filed the suit in October 2023, challenging the demolition ordered during the tenure of former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
Representing the applicant, Barrister Gloria Mabeiam Ballason argued that the demolition violated the right to freedom of religion and equal treatment before the law, as guaranteed by the African Charter and the Nigerian Constitution. She criticized Nigerian courts for failing to hold state officials accountable, particularly Ismail Umaru Dikko, who allegedly led armed security forces to demolish the church and harass its members.
Ballason further argued that Kaduna State University and the Chapel of Goodnews are separate legal entities and that the Federal Government, as the overall governing authority, is the proper defendant in the case. She urged the ECOWAS Court to uphold religious freedoms and award exemplary damages.
On the other hand, Defence Counsel Barrister Ibrahim Hassan called for the case’s dismissal, arguing that the applicant failed to exhaust local legal remedies and was engaging in “forum shopping.” However, Ballason countered that since Nigerian courts had denied justice, the ECOWAS Court was an appropriate avenue for redress.
A panel of three justices heard the arguments and reserved judgment, with a ruling date to be communicated later.
