The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has expressed concern over the difficulty of enforcing judgements issued by the ECOWAS Court of Justice within sovereign states that operate under varying political climates.
Justice Alogba made this remark during a courtesy visit by the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, in Lagos on Thursday.
While commending the ECOWAS Court for maintaining high standards of jurisprudence and its steadfast commitment to justice across West Africa, Alogba emphasized its importance in the regional legal framework.
“The existence of judicial bodies like the ECOWAS Court plays a vital role in ensuring legal accountability and curbing impunity, even when direct enforcement mechanisms are limited,” he said.
In response, Justice Gonçalves noted that the visit was part of the court’s ongoing sensitisation campaign, as well as preparations for its upcoming external court sessions scheduled for May 5–7 and May 8–16 in Lagos.
He stated that the events were aimed at raising public awareness about the court’s functions and expanding access to regional justice.
Justice Gonçalves also addressed the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS, which has reduced the number of participating member states in the court from 15 to 12.
He described the development as regrettable.
