Abuja: A former Vice President of the ECOWAS Court, Prof. Friday Nwoke, has called for the inclusion of criminal jurisdiction in the court's mandate to enable it to handle criminal cases. He made this appeal during the ECOWAS Court's 2025/2026 Legal Year celebration, themed 'ECOWAS Court and International Law: Expanding Access and Navigating Contemporary Challenges.'
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nwoke, a Professor of International Law at the University of Jos, urged ECOWAS leaders to initiate the process of expanding the Court's mandate to include criminal jurisdiction in light of contemporary challenges. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues like terrorism, conflicts, and other challenges within the court's jurisdiction.
Nwoke highlighted the need for political authorities, particularly the ECOWAS Commission, to spearhead the process of expanding the court's jurisdiction. He pointed out that issues such as migration, terrorism, and climate change cannot be adequately addressed without regional jurisdiction.
The former Vice President also pressed for the expansion of the Community Court's mandate to help counter military coups and unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa. He suggested that national courts should collaborate with the community court for successful integration.
Nwoke, who was the keynote speaker, called on ECOWAS political authorities to ensure the enforcement of ECOWAS Court judgments among member states, stressing the importance of political goodwill for this obligation. He cited Article 24 of the Supplementary Protocol, which mandates the enforcement of the court's judgments through the civil procedure rules of member states' courts.
He emphasized the need for collaboration between the ECOWAS Court and domestic courts of member states, along with the incorporation of community law principles into national jurisdictions. He noted that member states must cede some sovereignty to the institution to enable effective functioning.
Nwoke argued for the integration of international law into domestic law, urging national courts to view the ECOWAS court as a partner rather than a competitor. He concluded by stating that the ECOWAS Court of Justice plays a crucial role in justice, human rights, peace, and stability in West Africa, advocating for the expansion of its jurisdiction and access for ECOWAS citizens.