The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has charged the ECOWAS Court of Justice to come up with guidelines that will facilitate the enforcement of its judgments by member states.
The CJN gave the charge in Abuja when the President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Goncalves, led a delegation of the court’s judges on a courtesy visit to her office.
Justice Goncalves said the visit was to solicit the support of the Chief Justice of Nigeria for the enforcement of the judgments of the ECOWAS Court.
He lamented that due to lack of political will, and other challenges, eighty percent of the court’s judgments could not be enforced.
Justice Goncalves pleaded with Nigeria to lead by example, saying if Nigeria enforces the court’s judgments, other member states will follow suit.
Responding, Justice Kudirat KekereEkun commended the ECOWAS Court for its landmark and impressive judgments on enforcement of fundamental human rights in the sub-regNigeria
A statement on Tuesday by Mr Tobi Soniyi,
Senior Special Assistant on Media to the CJN hinted that the CJN acknowledged the importance of enforcement of the judgments of the ECOWAS Court.
However, Justice Kekere-Ekun stated emphatically that enforcing the court’s judgments lies mainly with the executive.
She therefore advised the court to use the opportunity provided by its Bilateral Meeting on the Status of the Judgments of the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS to develop a uniform procedure for the enforcement of the court’s judgments.
Justice Kekere-Ekun further counseled the judges of the court to consult widely with stakeholders to rework existing guidelines for enforcement of the court’s judgments.
The CJN pledged support for the ECOWAS Court in areas of training through the National Judicial Institute.
Three other Justices of the Supreme Court, John Inyang Okoro, Adamu Jauro and Chioma Iheme-Nwosu were also in attendance.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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