ECOWAS court delegates conclude Lagos visit

The delegates of the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States has concluded their sensitisation visit to Lagos State.They called on citizens of ECOWAS member states to approach the court for redress in their human rights disputes.The delegates, led by the Vice-President of the court, Justice Benefeito Ramos, said at a press conference on Friday that in four days, they were able to meet with the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Mrs. Inumidun Akande, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who received them on behalf of Governor Babatunde Fashola.Other members of the delegation were the Dean of the court, Justice Hansine Donli, the Registrar, Mr. Tony Anene-Maidoh, and Principal Research Officer, Mrs. Franca Ofor.Rasmos added that they also met with delegates of the Ikeja and Lagos State branches of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Market Women Association, the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Customs and Immigration officials as well as officials of the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.He, however, regretted that they were unable to visit the Faculties of Law of the University of Lagos and Lagos State University, due to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.According to him, the delegation would proceed to Oyo and Osun states for continuation of the sensitisation mission in the South-West of the country.He highlighted the benefits citizens of the 15 member states stood to gain by seeking for justice at the court.He said, The ECOWAS Court of Justice is the regional Court of ECOWAS. It is an international court. It is composed of seven independent judges appointed by the authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. The essential role of the court is the interpretation and the application of the Revised Treaty of ECOWAS and the annexed protocols and conventions.He added that the court had exclusive jurisdiction over matters relating to ECOWAS treaties.Rasmos further said that the court was established to deepen democracy and good governance in the member states.Corroborating Rasmos postion, Ofor, said the court provided platform for citizens to seek redress against the government of their countries.In his contribution, Anene-Maidoh, said the establishment of the court had broadened the choice of aggrieved citizens in seeking justice.According to him, the courts decisions cannot be appealed.The delegates however, added that the court had a mechanism for reviewing its decisions in instances where a party felt the court had not taken certain facts into consideration.Ofor said a case could only be reviewed once, while Anene-Maidoh added that the court had undertaken reviews of nine cases since its establishment.On the enforcement of its judgments, Rasmos said, We are not an appellate court over the national courts of member states; we rely on the member states for the enforcement of the decisions of the court in accordance with their Rules of Civil Procedure.
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