“Regional Courts, Lawyers Demand Effective Enforcement of Rulings”

Legal leaders from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the ECOWAS Court of Justice met in Abuja to address a pressing concern: court rulings are often ignored, weakening trust in the justice system.

The NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), and ECOWAS Court President Justice Ricardo Gonçalves emphasized that issuing judgments is only effective if countries ensure they are implemented.

Osigwe stressed that real justice depends on decisions being respected and carried out, warning that overlooked rulings erode confidence in the legal system across West Africa.

Justice Gonçalves highlighted compliance as a serious challenge, noting that failure by member states to enforce ECOWAS Court rulings could undermine faith in regional justice. Both leaders called for stronger cooperation among judges, lawyers, governments, and civil society to guarantee prompt and effective execution of judgments.