The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Monday 16th February 2026 received the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Honourable Justice Ricardo C.M Gonçalves, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja, during a high-level engagement focused on the enforcement of judgments of the Court within Member States.
The President of the Court was accompanied by other senior officials of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Directors and representatives of relevant departments, were also in attendance.
In his remarks, Justice Gonçalves expressed appreciation to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for its longstanding support to the ECOWAS Community and to the Court of Justice. He noted that the visit formed part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS and was aimed at engaging Member States on the critical issue of non-enforcement of the Court’s judgments.
The President of the Court informed the meeting that the Court had registered 128 cases involving Nigeria. Of these, 66 had been concluded, 10 judgments had been executed, while 52 remained pending execution. He observed that non-enforcement of the Court’s decisions poses significant challenges to the credibility of the institution and to the broader objectives of regional judicial integration. He emphasized Nigeria’s pivotal role as a founding Member State and a leading pillar of the Community, noting that Nigeria’s example in ensuring compliance would have far-reaching implications for the integrity of the regional judicial system.
Justice Gonçalves underscored the need for closer collaboration between the Court and national authorities to develop improved mechanisms for enforcement and to strengthen the rule of law within the Community. He reiterated the Court’s readiness to work constructively with the Government of Nigeria in identifying practical solutions to address the challenges associated with implementation of judgments.
The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in her response welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS Community and its institutions. She acknowledged the importance of the meeting, particularly in light of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS, and commended the Court for its role as a trailblazer among regional courts in Africa.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the statistics presented on enforcement as a matter requiring serious attention and assured the delegation that the concerns raised would be transmitted to the relevant national authorities, particularly the Federal Ministry of Justice, for further review and action. She emphasized that Nigeria recognizes its responsibility as a key Member State and understands its pivotal role in strengthening the Community’s institutions.
The Honourable Minister of State highlighted several factors contributing to enforcement challenges, including limited awareness of the Court’s mandate at the national level, institutional capacity constraints, and variations in domestic legal and administrative frameworks across Member States. She noted ongoing efforts by Nigeria to enhance public awareness of ECOWAS institutions, including initiatives aimed at introducing ECOWAS Clubs in educational institutions to promote deeper understanding of the Community’s structures and objectives.
She further underscored the importance of improved communication and coordination between the Court, national governments, and domestic judicial systems, stressing that harmonised and standardized enforcement mechanisms would contribute significantly to consistency and effectiveness in the execution of judgments across Member States.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s support for the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the Honourable Minister of State assured the delegation that Nigeria remains committed to constructive engagement and to working collaboratively toward practical solutions that uphold the integrity of the Court and advance regional integration.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism that strengthened dialogue and institutional cooperation would enhance compliance mechanisms and reinforce the credibility of the ECOWAS judicial framework.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates Nigeria’s enduring commitment to the principles of regional integration, rule of law, and effective multilateral cooperation within the ECOWAS Community.
