Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has sharply criticized Nigeria’s persistent failure to comply with judgments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, describing it as a national embarrassment and a blow to the rule of law in the region.
Falana’s rebuke comes in response to President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks at the 50th-anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS in Lagos, where Tinubu praised the bloc’s commitment to democracy, accountability, and the rule of law through its institutions, including the ECOWAS Court. Falana, however, argued that the reality is starkly different, with Nigeria and other ECOWAS leaders routinely disregarding the court’s decisions.
Citing official records from the ECOWAS Court as of December 2024, Falana revealed that Nigeria tops the list of member states with unenforced judgments, failing to implement 44 court decisions. Togo follows with 27, Guinea with 15, Mali with 10, and several others trailing behind. According to Falana, this widespread non-compliance undermines the credibility of ECOWAS and perpetuates instability and unconstitutional changes of government across the region.
Falana reminded leaders that some former heads of state who once ignored the court’s rulings such as Charles Taylor of Liberia and Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d’Ivoire later turned to the same court for protection of their own rights after leaving office. He also highlighted the case of Mrs. Doe, widow of the late Liberian leader Samuel Doe, who successfully secured a judgment from the ECOWAS Court.
Under Article 24 of the ECOWAS Court’s protocol, each member state is required to designate a competent national authority to process and enforce the court’s judgments. In 2014, Nigeria appointed its attorney-general and minister of justice for this role. Falana called it “the height of embarrassment” that Nigeria, while holding the ECOWAS chairmanship under President Tinubu, leads in non-compliance.
To restore Nigeria’s credibility and uphold the rule of law, Falana urged President Tinubu to immediately direct the attorney-general, Lateef Fagbemi, to ensure full and prompt compliance with all ECOWAS Court decisions. He stressed that respecting regional judicial authority is essential for democracy, human rights, and the stability of West Africa.
