At a time when confidence in regional institutions is facing growing scrutiny, ECOWAS is seeking to reinforce the credibility of its judicial system with the swearing-in of five new judges of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.
The judges, drawn from Benin, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo, took the oath of office on Tuesday in Abuja, beginning a four-year tenure on the regional court.
The new judges are Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin, Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
The oath was administered by Senegalese President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Faye used the occasion to emphasise the importance of an independent and credible judiciary to the stability and effectiveness of the West African regional bloc.
He urged the new judges to discharge their responsibilities with independence, impartiality and integrity, stressing that their conduct and decisions would have a direct bearing on public confidence in the court.
The Senegalese president also called on the judges to contribute to the modernisation of the Community Court of Justice and work towards ensuring that justice remains accessible, effective and responsive to the needs of citizens across the region.
According to Faye, the responsibility before the judges extends beyond the courtroom, particularly as ECOWAS continues to navigate political, economic and security challenges across West Africa.
He urged them to remain firmly committed to the principles of justice and the rule of law, regardless of the difficulties confronting the region.
The five judges replace outgoing members of the court whose four-year tenure has expired, paving the way for a new judicial team to take responsibility for the court’s proceedings.
The newly sworn-in judges are also expected to elect a president and vice-president from among themselves. Both positions will be held for two years.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice is the judicial arm of the regional organisation and is responsible for matters arising from the interpretation and application of ECOWAS legal instruments.
Its role places the court at the centre of efforts to uphold the legal framework of regional integration and provide a judicial mechanism for resolving matters within the scope of ECOWAS law.
The appointment of the five judges therefore comes at an important point for the regional bloc, which continues to confront political and institutional challenges while seeking to strengthen its structures and maintain confidence in regional governance.
With their four-year mandate now underway, the new judicial team will be expected to uphold the independence and credibility of the court while helping to strengthen public confidence in the regional justice system.
