In a powerful display of regional unity and judicial reform, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice launched its Sensitisation Outreach and External Court Sessions in Lagos yesterday, bringing regional law out of the courtroom and into the public sphere.
The grand ballroom of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, served as the stage for the opening ceremony, where dignitaries, legal professionals, and citizens gathered to witness a defining moment in the evolution of justice in West Africa.
Welcoming the court’s outreach with optimism, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, described the event as a milestone that underscores the shared West African commitment to justice, human rights, and legal inclusivity.
“This gathering reflects our collective resolve to make justice not just a concept, but a lived experience for our citizens. We in Lagos State stand firmly behind the ECOWAS Court in its mission to uphold justice beyond borders,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
The court’s outreach initiative marks a notable shift in its strategy, moving from judicial seclusion to active public engagement.
With this program, the ECOWAS Court seeks to clarify its role, strengthen its ties with citizens, and emphasise its commitment to transparent, people-centred justice.
Speaking at the event, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Gonçalves, reiterated this new direction.
“We stand before you, not behind the high walls of the court but among you, the very people we serve,” he said.
Justice Gonçalves stressed that justice must no longer be perceived as an exclusive preserve of the elite, but a right accessible to every citizen across the subregion.
“Justice hidden is justice denied. We are here to change that,” he said.
The Lagos outreach, which will be followed by external court sessions from May 8 to 16, is designed to enhance public trust and access to the court by showcasing its operations firsthand.
Citizens will be able to observe proceedings and gain insights into how the regional court functions.
Alongside the outreach, the ECOWAS Court announced sweeping reforms aimed at dismantling structural barriers to justice.
These include the introduction of an electronic case management system, online filing of cases, virtual court hearings, automated case scheduling, and public digital access to court decisions.
“These reforms are more than administrative changes; they are instruments of inclusion. They will connect citizens to justice irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographic location,” Justice Gonçalves said.
He reminded attendees that the ECOWAS Court is not a court of appeal for national judgments, but a unique supranational tribunal whose strength lies in its cooperation with national legal systems.
“It is only through coordinated action that we can ensure that justice is not an abstract concept but a living promise,” he said.
The Court's modernisation efforts are expected to significantly reduce delays, enhance transparency, and rebuild public confidence in regional legal systems.
Chairing the event, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, emphasised the vital synergy between national courts and the ECOWAS Court, especially in handling human rights issues and cross-border disputes.
“The ECOWAS Court complements and reinforces the administration of justice within Member States. While national courts remain the first point of recourse, the regional court provides a crucial mechanism for transnational justice,” the CJN posited.
She called for strengthened collaboration and mutual respect between judicial institutions to advance legal harmony across the subregion.
“Legal integration is the cornerstone of regional unity. It is vital in a region striving for economic cooperation, political stability, and the free movement of people,” Justice Kekere-Ekun noted.
In her closing remarks, the CJN urged participants to view the outreach as more than an event, rather, as a renewed pledge to uphold the rule of law and promote regional justice.
“Let us walk together in the light of justice and ensure that our shared values are upheld through action, not only in our courts but in the lives of the people we serve,” she said.
The ceremony brought together a broad mix of stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), academic institutions, civil society groups, and human rights organizations, each affirming their commitment to a more just, inclusive, and interconnected West African legal space.
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