The newly appointed bench of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has pledged to strictly uphold judicial independence, eliminate trial delays, and enforce court judgments across the sub-region amid a renewed drive to restore public confidence in regional justice delivery.
The commitment was reaffirmed on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during an induction and judicial retreat titled “Becoming an ECOWAS Judge: Judicial Excellence, Institutional Integration and Effective Adjudication,” held at the ECOWAS Court Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
Opening the proceedings at 10:00 AM WAT, the newly sworn-in bench highlighted the immense responsibility entrusted to them following their formal inauguration earlier this month by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.
The judges underscored that unwavering adherence to fairness, impartiality, and judicial integrity remains essential to strengthening trust across Member States.
Addressing the institutional challenges historically facing the regional court, the bench announced plans to introduce streamlined court processes and case-management reforms aimed at drastically reducing backlog and guaranteeing the timely resolution of cases.
Furthermore, the judges stressed the necessity of establishing robust cooperation mechanisms between regional courts and national authorities to compel Member States to enforce ECOWAS rulings, noting that low compliance rates have historically undermined human rights protections in the sub-region.
”Ours is a regional Court whose jurisdiction cuts across Member States with different legal traditions, languages, and judicial cultures,” declared the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice during his keynote address.
“Public confidence in the Court depends on the fairness, impartiality, and integrity demonstrated in every case. We must ensure that our decisions are delivered without delay and enforced faithfully to preserve the rule of law across West Africa.”
Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Hon. Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia reiterated the shared resolve of the five-member college of judges. “Each of us comes to this Court with distinguished experience acquired at national benches, at the Bar, or in public service,” Justice Bah stated.
“We pledge to defend judicial independence, foster collegiality, and guarantee that regional justice is accessible, swift, and effective for every ECOWAS citizen.”
The newly appointed bench consists of five distinguished jurists serving a four-year non-renewable term: Hon. Justice Désiré Henri Aihou (Benin Republic), Hon. Justice Awa Bah (The Gambia), Hon. Justice Charlyne M. Brumskine (Liberia), Hon. Justice Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu (Nigeria), and Hon. Justice Yaouza Ouro-Sama (Togo). Together, they bring extensive legal expertise spanning civil, common, and international law traditions to the regional bench.
