Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on President Bola Tinubu to lead by example by ensuring Nigeria complies with judgments delivered by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, revealing that the country currently tops the list of member states with unenforced rulings.
Falana's remarks come in response to President Tinubu's recent statements during the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, where the President, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, praised the regional body's commitment to democratic norms.
The senior advocate, however, strongly disagreed with Tinubu's assessment, stating: "With respect, the ECOWAS leaders have failed to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law. Hence, the region continues to witness unconstitutional changes of government."
Nigeria Leads in Unenforced ECOWAS Court Judgments
According to Falana, a former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), as of December 2024, Nigeria has the highest number of unenforced ECOWAS Court judgments at 44, followed by Togo with 27, Guinea with 15, Mali with 10, and Sierra Leone with 9.
"In 2014, Nigeria designated the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice as the competent authority for enforcing ECOWAS Court judgments. It is embarrassing that Nigeria, under President Tinubu's leadership as ECOWAS Chairman, is leading the list of violators," Falana emphasized.
The human rights lawyer highlighted the irony that several former heads of state who once ignored the Court's rulings later sought protection from the same institution after leaving office. These include Charles Taylor of Liberia, Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d'Ivoire, Boni Yayi of Benin, Mamadou Tanja of Niger, and Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso.
Call for Immediate Action
Falana urged President Tinubu to immediately direct the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to enforce all outstanding ECOWAS Court judgments against Nigeria.
He described this action as necessary to restore Nigeria's credibility and reinforce the legal framework of ECOWAS, particularly as Tinubu currently serves as the Chairman of the regional body.
The lawyer's challenge comes at a time when regional integration and adherence to democratic principles remain critical issues across West Africa, with several countries experiencing political instability and unconstitutional changes in government in recent years.
