President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Judicial Council delegation at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
The delegation, led by its Chairman and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, held a two-day statutory meeting in Abuja, commencing on Tuesday.
During the opening session of the meeting, CJN Ariwoola emphasized the Council’s commitment to fostering justice, peace, and integration across West Africa. He highlighted the importance of unifying laws within the ECOWAS region.
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also addressed the gathering, urging the ECOWAS court to refrain from issuing orders and judgments that cannot be enforced. Fagbemi stressed the need for the regional court to consider the unique characteristics of member states, noting that some judgments delivered by the ECOWAS court are practically unenforceable.
He emphasized the necessity of promoting and deepening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms within the region to address legal challenges effectively.