By Emamuzo Iboma
The inaugural meeting of Competent National Authorities (CNA) of ECOWAS Member States responsible for the enforcement of judgments of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has commenced in Lagos, Nigeria.
The two-day meeting, holding from June 23 to 24, 2025, is themed Enhancing the Role, Relevance, and Effectiveness of the ECOWAS Court of Justice: Strengthening Synergies Between the Court and Competent National Authorities. It aims to address challenges hindering effective enforcement of the Court’s decisions and to identify practical solutions.
In his keynote address, the Honourable President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, emphasized the binding nature of the Court’s judgments and the duty of Member States to ensure their implementation. He noted that enforcement is vital to upholding the rule of law, promoting justice, and reinforcing regional human rights protections.
Referring to Article 24(2) of the Protocol on the Court, he explained that judgments are to be enforced through writs submitted to competent national authorities, who must verify and act on them according to their domestic civil procedures. He also cited Article 24(4), which requires Member States to designate and inform the Court of their competent national authorities, and commended 10 of the 12 Member States that have fulfilled this obligation.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, represented by Mr. Nnanna Ibom, Director of International and Compliance Law in the Ministry of Justice, praised the President of the Court for convening the meeting. He described the initiative as essential to advancing regional integration, promoting access to justice, and reinforcing the rule of law. He stressed the importance of developing practical strategies to harmonise enforcement procedures and improve collaboration between the Court and justice institutions in Member States.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, Chief Registrar of the Court, highlighted the workshop’s objective to reinforce the relationship between the Court and the CNAs to ensure smooth enforcement of its judgments. He acknowledged that poor compliance is a common issue faced by international courts due to their dependence on the political will and legal frameworks of Member States.
Citing Article 15(4) of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, he reminded participants that the Court’s judgments are binding on Member States, community institutions, individuals, and corporate bodies. He identified ongoing obstacles to enforcement, such as the lack of domesticated legal instruments, limited political commitment, and absence of enabling legislation.
The CNA workshop is expected to promote cooperation, enhance information sharing, and develop long-term mechanisms for the enforcement of ECOWAS Court judgments, thereby improving access to justice across the region.
