ECOWAS Leaders Undermining Rule of Law, Falana Alleges
Senior Advocate Urges President Tinubu to Ensure Compliance with ECOWAS Court Rulings
Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of failing to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles in the region.
In a statement titled “End Disobedience of ECOWAS Courts,” Falana said ECOWAS leaders have repeatedly shown disregard for the rulings of the Community Court of Justice, undermining its authority and the region’s legal framework.
Falana disclosed that as of December 2024, a total of 154 judgements from the ECOWAS Court remained unenforced by member states. He noted that Nigeria tops the list with 44 outstanding judgements, followed by Togo (27) and Guinea (15). Other non-compliant countries include Mali (10), Sierra Leone (9), Niger (8), Côte d’Ivoire (8), Senegal (8), Ghana (6), Benin (5), Liberia (4), Burkina Faso (5), The Gambia (3), Cabo Verde (1), and Guinea-Bissau (1).
“With respect, the ECOWAS leaders have failed to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law,” Falana said. “Without any legal or political justification, they have treated the decisions of the ECOWAS Court with disdain.”
He emphasized that some of the same leaders — or their family members — who once defied the court have later turned to it for protection after leaving office. Notable examples include Charles Taylor (Liberia), Laurent Gbagbo (Côte d’Ivoire), Boni Yayi (Benin), Mamadou Tandja (Niger), Blaise Compaoré (Burkina Faso), and Mrs. Doe, widow of former Liberian president Samuel Doe.
Nigeria’s Responsibility
Falana, who previously served as President of the West African Bar Association, said Article 24 of the ECOWAS Court mandates each member state to designate a national authority responsible for enforcing court decisions. In 2014, Nigeria appointed its Attorney-General for this role.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to immediately begin implementing the court’s decisions.
“It is the height of embarrassment that Nigeria, under the current ECOWAS Chairmanship of President Tinubu, leads in the number of unenforced judgements,” Falana said. “To restore credibility and regional leadership, Nigeria must comply without further delay.”
Tinubu’s ECOWAS Legacy
President Tinubu, who currently serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, recently praised the bloc’s achievements during its 50th anniversary celebrations, citing progress in election monitoring, mediation, and institution-building, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
“ECOWAS has upheld democratic norms through election observation, mediation, and institutions such as the ECOWAS Parliament and Court of Justice — cementing accountability, rule of law, and people-centred governance,” Tinubu said.
Falana’s remarks, however, suggest a stark contrast between rhetoric and reality, as he urged West African leaders to stop undermining the very institutions they claim to support.
Senior Advocate Urges President Tinubu to Ensure Compliance with ECOWAS Court Rulings
Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of failing to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles in the region.
In a statement titled “End Disobedience of ECOWAS Courts,” Falana said ECOWAS leaders have repeatedly shown disregard for the rulings of the Community Court of Justice, undermining its authority and the region’s legal framework.
Falana disclosed that as of December 2024, a total of 154 judgements from the ECOWAS Court remained unenforced by member states. He noted that Nigeria tops the list with 44 outstanding judgements, followed by Togo (27) and Guinea (15). Other non-compliant countries include Mali (10), Sierra Leone (9), Niger (8), Côte d’Ivoire (8), Senegal (8), Ghana (6), Benin (5), Liberia (4), Burkina Faso (5), The Gambia (3), Cabo Verde (1), and Guinea-Bissau (1).
“With respect, the ECOWAS leaders have failed to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law,” Falana said. “Without any legal or political justification, they have treated the decisions of the ECOWAS Court with disdain.”
He emphasized that some of the same leaders — or their family members — who once defied the court have later turned to it for protection after leaving office. Notable examples include Charles Taylor (Liberia), Laurent Gbagbo (Côte d’Ivoire), Boni Yayi (Benin), Mamadou Tandja (Niger), Blaise Compaoré (Burkina Faso), and Mrs. Doe, widow of former Liberian president Samuel Doe.
Nigeria’s Responsibility
Falana, who previously served as President of the West African Bar Association, said Article 24 of the ECOWAS Court mandates each member state to designate a national authority responsible for enforcing court decisions. In 2014, Nigeria appointed its Attorney-General for this role.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to immediately begin implementing the court’s decisions.
“It is the height of embarrassment that Nigeria, under the current ECOWAS Chairmanship of President Tinubu, leads in the number of unenforced judgements,” Falana said. “To restore credibility and regional leadership, Nigeria must comply without further delay.”
Tinubu’s ECOWAS Legacy
President Tinubu, who currently serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, recently praised the bloc’s achievements during its 50th anniversary celebrations, citing progress in election monitoring, mediation, and institution-building, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
“ECOWAS has upheld democratic norms through election observation, mediation, and institutions such as the ECOWAS Parliament and Court of Justice — cementing accountability, rule of law, and people-centred governance,” Tinubu said.
Falana’s remarks, however, suggest a stark contrast between rhetoric and reality, as he urged West African leaders to stop undermining the very institutions they claim to support.
ECOWAS Leaders Undermining Rule of Law, Falana Alleges
Senior Advocate Urges President Tinubu to Ensure Compliance with ECOWAS Court Rulings
Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of failing to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles in the region.
In a statement titled “End Disobedience of ECOWAS Courts,” Falana said ECOWAS leaders have repeatedly shown disregard for the rulings of the Community Court of Justice, undermining its authority and the region’s legal framework.
Falana disclosed that as of December 2024, a total of 154 judgements from the ECOWAS Court remained unenforced by member states. He noted that Nigeria tops the list with 44 outstanding judgements, followed by Togo (27) and Guinea (15). Other non-compliant countries include Mali (10), Sierra Leone (9), Niger (8), Côte d’Ivoire (8), Senegal (8), Ghana (6), Benin (5), Liberia (4), Burkina Faso (5), The Gambia (3), Cabo Verde (1), and Guinea-Bissau (1).
“With respect, the ECOWAS leaders have failed to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law,” Falana said. “Without any legal or political justification, they have treated the decisions of the ECOWAS Court with disdain.”
He emphasized that some of the same leaders — or their family members — who once defied the court have later turned to it for protection after leaving office. Notable examples include Charles Taylor (Liberia), Laurent Gbagbo (Côte d’Ivoire), Boni Yayi (Benin), Mamadou Tandja (Niger), Blaise Compaoré (Burkina Faso), and Mrs. Doe, widow of former Liberian president Samuel Doe.
Nigeria’s Responsibility
Falana, who previously served as President of the West African Bar Association, said Article 24 of the ECOWAS Court mandates each member state to designate a national authority responsible for enforcing court decisions. In 2014, Nigeria appointed its Attorney-General for this role.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to immediately begin implementing the court’s decisions.
“It is the height of embarrassment that Nigeria, under the current ECOWAS Chairmanship of President Tinubu, leads in the number of unenforced judgements,” Falana said. “To restore credibility and regional leadership, Nigeria must comply without further delay.”
Tinubu’s ECOWAS Legacy
President Tinubu, who currently serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, recently praised the bloc’s achievements during its 50th anniversary celebrations, citing progress in election monitoring, mediation, and institution-building, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
“ECOWAS has upheld democratic norms through election observation, mediation, and institutions such as the ECOWAS Parliament and Court of Justice — cementing accountability, rule of law, and people-centred governance,” Tinubu said.
Falana’s remarks, however, suggest a stark contrast between rhetoric and reality, as he urged West African leaders to stop undermining the very institutions they claim to support.
