ABUJA, NIGERIA – President Bola Tinubu, Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), pledged his unwavering support for judicial reforms across the region. He believes strengthening judicial systems is crucial for fortifying democracy in West Africa.
Meeting with the ECOWAS Judicial Council delegation led by Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Tinubu declared, “We are committed to transformative democracy because we believe the judiciary can protect it.” He emphasized the judiciary’s vital role as a pillar of democracy, assuring the Council of his full backing.
Tinubu commended the judges who participated in the two-day council meeting and hailed their successful deliberations. He promised that their recommendations would be seriously considered by ECOWAS leaders.
“We will work with you to ensure your expertise promotes justice in our democratic experiences,” he vowed, recognizing the judges as “the last hope of the common man” in the region.
Chief Justice Ariwoola reiterated the Council’s commitment to bolstering the effectiveness of the ECOWAS judicial system. He announced the establishment of two sub-committees to tackle pressing judicial issues.
One committee will revise the Council’s outdated rules of procedure, with members from Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Gambia, and Sierra Leone tackling the task.
The second committee, addressing the complex issue of enforcing Community Court judgments, will comprise representatives from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cabo Verde, and Togo.
Both committees will present their findings to the Council, which will then forward recommendations to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.