ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (CCJ) has concluded its first-ever meeting of Competent National Authorities (CNAs), resolving to adopt a united front on strengthening the enforcement of its judgments across West Africa, a major step toward closing the gap between regional justice decisions and national implementation.

The two-day meeting, which was held in the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos from June 23 to 24, had in attendance top legal minds, senior justice officials and government representatives from ECOWAS member states.

The landmark gathering was hailed by the President of the Court, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, as a defining moment in the push to ensure the Court’s rulings are not only issued but meaningfully enforced.

He said currently, only 22 per cent of the court’s judgments have been fully enforced, and just 10 out of 15 member states have designated national authorities to carry out enforcement.

Officials emphasised the legal obligation of states to comply with court rulings under Article 15 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty and Article 24(4) of the Supplementary Protocol.

Justice Gonçalves therefore urged governments, particularly in dualist legal systems, to fast-track the domestication of ECOWAS instruments and formally empower national enforcement agencies.

Echoing the call, Mr Nnanna Ibom of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Justice, who represented the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), noted: “Our mission going forward must be guided by implementation. Without it, the rule of law becomes a hollow promise.”