ECOWAS Court Launches Digital Platform for Justice Access

The ECOWAS Court of Justice inaugurated an electronic case management system (ECM) on Monday in Abuja, aimed at improving access to justice across the West African region. Chief Registrar Yaouza Ouro Sama described the initiative as a landmark reform that modernizes judicial administration and strengthens legal cooperation among ECOWAS member states.

The ECM platform is designed to expedite case handling, enhance transparency, and allow litigants and lawyers to track proceedings in real-time, regardless of location. This digital system will streamline case management, reduce delays, and eliminate bottlenecks, providing real-time access to case information.

Ricardo Goncalv, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, emphasized that the launch marks a significant turning point in the court's history, benefiting approximately 400 million people in the ECOWAS community. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for modernization, leading to the adoption of electronic case management practices.

The platform will support multiple languages and aims for at least 80% of legal practitioners to register within six months, with a vision for a fully digital court by 2030.