Nigeria Ranks Highest Among Countries Ignoring Ecowas Court Decisions

senting enforcement statistics for the region on Wednesday during World Human Rights Day, the Court’s Deputy Chief Registrar, Gaye Sowe, noted a persistent pattern of non-compliance among member states, with Nigeria accounting for the largest backlog.

According to Sowe, Nigeria currently has 50 outstanding judgments yet to be enforced.

“Nigeria has a total of 125 cases. Of these, 67 were dismissed, 10 enforced, and 48 remain unenforced. Adding recent developments brings the number to about 50,” he said. He explained that the court has delivered 492 judgments involving the 12 active ECOWAS member states, of which 192 are enforceable, meaning the member states or defendants are required to take specific actions.

Sowe provided a breakdown of judgments by country:

• Benin: Total 19; dismissed 13; unenforced six; enforced 0
• Cape Verde: Total 3; dismissed 2; unenforced 1; enforced 0
• Côte d’Ivoire: Total 28; dismissed 19; unenforced 9; enforced 0
• Ghana: Total 13; dismissed 6; unenforced 7; enforced 0
• Guinea-Bissau: Total 1; unenforced 1
• Guinea: Total 25; dismissed 7; unenforced 18; enforced 0
• Liberia: Total 15; dismissed 10; unenforced 4; enforced 1
• Nigeria: Total 125; dismissed 67; enforced 10; unenforced 50
• Senegal: Total 35; dismissed 23; unenforced 9; enforced 3
• Sierra Leone: Total 18; dismissed 6; unenforced 11; enforced 1
• The Gambia: Total 13; dismissed 5; unenforced 5; enforced 2; 1 struck out
• Togo: Total 58; dismissed 26; unenforced 29; partially enforced 1; amicably settled 1; withdrawn 1

The ECOWAS Commission itself, which appears before the Court as a respondent, has 36 judgments against it: dismissed 18; enforced 14; unenforced 3; amicably settled 1; abandoned 1.

Sowe highlighted that more than half of all judgments delivered since the Court’s inception have been dismissed, raising concerns about the nature of cases filed. He emphasized that outreach and sensitization in member states would continue to address this issue.

He also noted that most member states have established competent national authorities to enforce court judgments, with only Benin and Cape Verde yet to do so.

President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Ricardo Gonçalves, observed that the Court has delivered numerous judgments advancing human rights, including freedom of expression, assembly, education, and a healthy environment. However, most remain unimplemented by member states.

He urged ECOWAS countries to fully enforce judgments, cooperate with national and regional human rights bodies, and ensure victims have access to justice. Gonçalves also called for stronger protection of civil society groups, the media, and human rights defenders.

“The Court has issued progressive rulings covering civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and third-generation rights, holding states accountable for violations. Yet, without full implementation, the promise of human rights protection under the 2005 Supplementary Protocol remains unfulfilled,” he said.