ECOWAS Court Urges Civil Society to Enforce Judgments

The ECOWAS Court, led by President Ricardo Gonçalves, has called on civil society organizations (CSOs) to address the enforcement gap in the court's judgments, warning that the region's justice credibility is at risk if these judgments remain unimplemented. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Gonçalves highlighted that court decisions are binding and require immediate enforcement across member states, stressing the importance of civic vigilance and advocacy strategies.

He noted that Nigeria's civil society is vibrant and capable of leading the region towards a stronger compliance culture. Gonçalves encouraged CSOs to institutionalize monitoring of judgments and publish independent compliance scorecards while engaging lawmakers and government agencies in enforcement policy reform campaigns.

Mojirayo Ogunlana, Executive Director of Digiciv Initiative, emphasized that the legitimacy of the court depends on the state's willingness to comply with its decisions. The discussion also included plans for a comprehensive enforcement strategy to ensure that judicial outcomes translate into real benefits for citizens.