Lagos: The Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has expressed concerns over the challenges of enforcing ECOWAS Court judgments in sovereign states with varying political climates. Alogba shared these concerns during a courtesy visit by ECOWAS Court President, Justice Ricardo Gon§alves, in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a statement issued on Thursday by ECOWAS Court's spokesman, Felicien Hounkanrin, highlighted that Alogba praised the ECOWAS Court for maintaining high standards of jurisprudence and its dedication to justice within the sub-region. Alogba acknowledged the achievements of the ECOWAS Court and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and exchange between national and regional judicial bodies.
Alogba further stressed that international charters must be respected once ratified by member states. He noted that judicial bodies like the ECOWAS Court play a vital role in ensuring legal accountability and curbing impunity, even when direct enforcement mechanisms are limited.
In response, Justice Gon§alves, accompanied by the court's Vice President, Justice Sengu Koroma, and the Chief Registrar, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, expressed gratitude to the CJ for the warm reception and institutional support. Gon§alves explained that the visit was part of the court's sensitization campaign and preparations for upcoming external court sessions scheduled to take place from May 5-7 and May 8-16 in Lagos.
The court's president noted that the events aim to increase public awareness about the court's role and improve access to regional justice. He remarked that the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS had reduced the number of the court's participating states from 15 to 12, describing this development as regrettable.
While affirming the court's ongoing commitment to its mandate, Gon§alves outlined its primary jurisdiction as human rights protection, which accounts for over 80 percent of its caseload. He also detailed the court's other mandates, including the interpretation and application of ECOWAS legal instruments, disputes involving community civil servants, and providing advisory legal opinions to ECOWAS institutions.