RismadarVoice Reporters
February 17, 2026
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, on Monday hosted the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja, where both leaders identified the non-enforcement of court judgments as a major threat to justice in the West African sub-region.
Justice Gonçalves was accompanied by other judges of the regional court and senior registry officials during the high-level engagement, which focused on improving compliance by member states with the decisions of the ECOWAS Court.
In a statement made available on Tuesday, Osigwe described the NBA as the umbrella body of all legal practitioners in Nigeria and a consistent advocate of the rule of law, constitutional governance, and access to justice, both nationally and across the sub-region.
He described the visit as timely, noting that it centered on a matter “fundamental to the survival and credibility of judicial institutions”, the enforcement of judgments.
According to Osigwe, judicial authority is not sustained merely by the pronouncement of decisions, but by the certainty that such decisions will be obeyed. He warned that where court judgments are routinely ignored or disobeyed, “the very foundation of justice is weakened.”
The NBA President stressed that for a supranational court such as the ECOWAS Court to retain legitimacy and command the confidence of citizens and member states, its decisions must be treated as binding obligations rather than advisory opinions.
“Enforcement is the lifeblood of adjudication and without compliance, even the most well-reasoned judgments risk becoming symbolic,” he said.
Osigwe assured the regional court of the NBA’s readiness to collaborate on practical and sustainable mechanisms to strengthen compliance and deepen respect for the court’s authority across West Africa.
In his remarks, Justice Gonçalves expressed appreciation for the warm reception and the opportunity to engage directly with the leadership of Nigeria’s foremost professional legal body.
He explained that the Court’s ongoing engagements in member states are aimed at addressing persistent challenges surrounding the enforcement of its judgments.
He described enforcement as a pressing institutional concern among the judges, with far-reaching implications for the court’s credibility, authority, and long-term relevance.
According to him, the effectiveness of regional human rights protection and treaty enforcement depends significantly on the willingness of member states to comply with and domesticate the Court’s decisions.
The meeting underscored growing concerns within the sub-region over compliance gaps, highlighted the need for stronger institutional cooperation to safeguard the rule of law in West Africa.
