ECOWAS Court of Justice has lamented what it described as “poor enforcement of the decision.”
Edward Asante, the President of the Court, said, in Abuja, that 70 percent of the court’s court is disobeyed between the sub-regions.
“The effectiveness of the courts has been limited because they have not enforced their decisions.”
Mr. Asante said this at the opening of the new court building in Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in August 2022 how the 2016 court ruling was not followed by the ECOWAS Commission headquartered in Abuja.
The ECOWAS Commission has defied a regional court order on the payment of a court debt of N400 million, owed by the company, Vision Kam-Jay Investment Limited.
In addition, the court in July 2021, ordered the Nigerian government to pay journalist, Agba Jalingo, N30 million as compensation for torturing him while in custody in Cross River State.
A non-profit organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has sued the Nigerian state on Mr Jalingo’s behalf.
“Agba Jalingo was arrested and chained to a deep freezer for about 34 days without being charged to court, mistreated and humiliated,” SERAP said before the court.
The court sought the support of the FCT minister
The court president has sought financial support from the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to set up leases for new office accommodation.
Mr. Asante said the court contributed to the promotion of regional peace and stability through the exercise of human rights jurisdiction.
He recalled his decade-long engagement with the Nigerian government to secure the replacement of court accommodation due to the inadequacy of the previous Headquarters in the Wuse area of Abuja.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, commended the Nigerian government for its support for the effective operation of community institutions.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his personal commitment to the regional body.
Mr. Touray expressed hope that the new office would provide the court with the necessary resources and facilities to function efficiently.
He said the court will occupy new office space pending delivery of the new headquarters in 2025.
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