The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice yesterday launched its 2025 sensitisation outreach and external court sessions in Lagos with a call to member states to bring justice out of courtrooms and into the heart of West African communities.
President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves stated this in a keynote address delivered at the opening ceremony of External Court Session of ECOWAS Court of Justice held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Justice Goncalves declared that justice must no longer be the “language of the privileged” or “a distant dream” but a birthright for every citizen — from the remotest village to the bustling urban centers.
“Justice hidden is justice denied,” Justice Goncalves stated. “We are here not just as officers of the court, but as messengers of change. The time has come to restore hope, build bridges, and serve justice where it is most needed — at the grassroots.”
The event marks the start of a multi-day programme designed to raise awareness about the Court’s role, improve understanding of ECOWAS Community law, and engage directly with legal professionals, students, and citizens.
The sensitisation initiative precedes the Court’s External Session scheduled to run from May 8 to 16.
Justice Gonçalves highlighted a series of reforms that have modernised the Court’s operations, including the introduction of electronic filing, virtual hearings, and online access to judgments — measures aimed at enhancing transparency, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and connecting even the most disadvantaged citizens to the judicial process.
He also issued direct appeals to stakeholders across the justice sector: urging law schools to integrate ECOWAS legal studies, encouraging lawyers to embrace pro bono work, and calling on judges to uphold judicial independence with integrity.
Governments, he stressed, must cooperate by ratifying and implementing human rights treaties and enforcing court judgments in a timely manner.
