Judgment compliance: ECOWAS court urges Nigeria to lead by example

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Judgment compliance: ECOWAS court urges Nigeria to lead by example

The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, has called on the Nigerian government to lead by example in enforcing the court’s judgments to strengthen the regional rule of law and restore confidence in community justice.

He disclosed that since the establishment of the Court, 128 cases have been instituted against Nigeria, with 66 closed, 10 executed and 52 still pending execution.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting between the Court and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the enforcement of the court’s judgements on Tuesday in Abuja, the court president said If Nigeria leads by example, it would strengthen the authority of the court and encourage other states to comply.

According to him, failure to enforce judgments weakens the authority of the Court, erodes citizens’ confidence in regional justice and undermines West Africa’s image as a zone of legal and institutional stability.

Gonçalves said, “Nigeria is not merely a Member State. It is one of the founding members of ECOWAS, an economic engine of the region, a political and diplomatic leader, and a pillar of regional stability. Since the establishment of the Court, 128 cases have been instituted against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 66 cases have been closed; 10 cases have been executed; 52 cases remain pending execution. These figures are not presented as censure, but as an objective basis for joint and profound reflection.

“If the Federal Republic of Nigeria leads by example, it will: Strengthen the authority of the Court; Send a clear message of commitment to the regional rule of law; Encourage other States to follow the same path; Consolidate its position as a normative reference in West Africa. Regional leadership is not demonstrated solely in economic or political terms, but also through fidelity to freely undertaken legal obligations.”

While acknowledging that non-compliance often stems from structural and institutional challenges rather than outright refusal, the Court President listed factors such as lack of coordination mechanisms, administrative and budgetary constraints, political sensitivity of some cases, weak sanctions enforcement and poor inter-agency cooperation.

Source : PUNCH