ECOWAS COURT SEEKS STRONGER TIES WITH NATIONAL JUDICIARIES, HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS MANDATE
Read Time:2 Minute, 16 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (CCJ), Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, has reaffirmed the Court’s commitment to human rights protection, judicial cooperation, and regional integration across West Africa, calling for strengthened collaboration with national judicial systems.
Speaking during a sensitization program in Lagos, Dr. Ouro-Sama expressed deep appreciation to the Chief Judge of Lagos State and other judicial officers for their unwavering support in hosting the Court’s external session and promoting regional justice mechanisms.
“The presence of the Lagos State judiciary at this dialogue underscores the importance you place on the ECOWAS Court of Justice and its mission,” he said.
Dr. Ouro-Sama outlined the Court’s evolution, noting its transformation from a limited mandate resolving disputes among member states to a multi-functional institution empowered by a 2005 protocol to adjudicate human rights violations. This expansion allows individuals and corporate entities to access the Court directly, especially in cases where national systems fall short.
“The ECOWAS Court plays a complementary not competitive role to national courts. While we uphold the ECOWAS Treaty and regional legal instruments, national courts remain central in interpreting domestic laws. Together, we form a judicial ecosystem committed to justice and human dignity,” he said.
He emphasized that the Court does not act as an appellate body over national courts but provides an alternative path to justice when domestic remedies are unavailable, ineffective, or delayed.
“This respectful partnership fosters mutual recognition and reinforces the legal foundations of our regional integration efforts,” Dr. Ouro-Sama explained, reiterating the Court’s accountability to the people of the region.
Acknowledging the persistent challenge of public ignorance about the Court’s mandate, he stated, “Despite our growing relevance, many West Africans remain unaware of the Court’s existence and functions. This sensitization mission in Lagos aims to change that by deepening legal awareness and access to justice.”
Dr. Ouro-Sama described the ECOWAS Court as “a court of first and last resort” in human rights matters, especially where national courts cannot offer redress. He cited the Court’s global recognition and its track record in landmark cases, underscoring its role in shaping a just and inclusive legal order for the region.
He called on national courts, including the Lagos State Judiciary, to pursue strategic partnerships that strengthen the ECOWAS legal order and bring justice closer to grassroots communities.
“This collaboration is essential in transforming ECOWAS from a community of states to a community of people,” he said.
The Chief Registrar concluded by expressing optimism about the outcomes of the sensitization program and upcoming judicial dialogues, anticipating actionable recommendations that will further harmonize the roles of regional and national courts in West Africa.
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