CJN urges ECOWAS Court to develop uniform enforcement procedure for judgments
…Court President laments non-enforcement of decisions The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has outlined measures to strengthen enforcement of judgments delivered by the Community Court of the Economic
...Court President laments non-enforcement of decisions
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has outlined measures to strengthen enforcement of judgments delivered by the Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court).
Justice Kekere-Ekun advised the ECOWAS Court to utilise the platform of its bilateral meeting on the status of its judgments to formulate a uniform procedure for their enforcement across member states.
She further urged the judges of the court to engage extensively with relevant stakeholders in order to review and refine existing enforcement guidelines, with a view to improving compliance.
Her recommendations followed concerns raised by the leadership of the ECOWAS Court of Justice over the reluctance of some member states of the Economic Community of West African States to implement its decisions.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by her Special Assistant on Media, Tobi Soniyi, the CJN spoke in Abuja on Monday when the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Goncalves led a delegation of the court’s judges on a courtesy visit to her office.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who recognised the importance of having ECOWAS Court's judgements enforced by member states, noted that enforcing the court’s judgments lies mainly with the Executive arm of government
She commended the ECOWAS Court for its landmark and impressive judgments on enforcement of fundamental human rights in the sub region.
The CJN also pledged support for the ECOWAS Court in areas of training through Nigeria's National Judicial Institute (NJI).
Speaking earlier, Justice Goncalves said the visit was to solicit the support of their host in ensuring the enforcement of the judgments of the ECOWAS Court.
Justice Goncalves lamented that due to lack of political will and other challenges, 80 percent of the court’s decisions could not be enforced.
He tasked Nigeria to lead by example, stressing that if Nigeria enforces the court’s judgments other member states of the ECOWAS will follow suit.
Three other Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justices Inyang Okoro, Adamu Jauro and Chioma Iheme Nwosu were also in attendance.
