- directs meeting of member nations’ Attorneys-General to remove bottleneck to enforcements
Published By Olukayode Idowu
Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament (ECOPARL) His Excellency Rt Honourable Dr Sidie Mohamed Tunis yesterday called on all Attorneys General in all regional member states to “as a matter of grave concern, not only to our people, but to the International Community, urgently organize a special meeting to address the ugly trend of state actors now deciding which ruling or opinion of the ECOWAS court to honor.”
Speaker Tunis made this passionate appeal whilst delivering his goodwill message at the opening of an international conference organized by the ECOWAS Court of Justice under the theme: ‘Twenty Years of ECOWAS Court of Justice: Achievements, Challenges, Prospects,’ in Lome, Republic of Togo.
In his goodwill message, the ECOWAS Parliament Speaker noted that the regional Parliament takes due cognizant of the fact that the reputation of the Court is being brought into disrepute by what he referred to as the “slow, partial, and even non implementation of its ruling.”
Speaking on the reasons for the establishment of the community court, Dr Tunis said key amongst the reasons is “to ensure the observance of law and of the principles of equity in the interpretation and application of the provisions of the Revised Treaty, as well as all other subsidiary legal instruments adopted by the Community.”
Speaker Tunis further added that “the Court, as the custodian of fundamental rights and freedoms, is obliged to play a very significant role in consolidating the gains we have made in entrenching the rule of law in Member States and protecting citizens against the arbitrary exercise of power. These key principles are characteristic of a society where the rule of law is upheld.”
As a result, the Speaker noted that the framers had in mind that the court “would ensure the fair, impartial and independent administration of justice, so that each citizen is treated with respect, dignity and fairness, and receives a fair treatment in the application of our laws.”
Reiterating the position of ECOWAS Parliament in standing in solidarity with ECOWAS Court, Speaker Tunis said “we celebrate the success of the Court and its enviable records in overcoming the storms of discrimination, prejudice, intolerance, abuse of human rights across the region, as well as its comprehensive diagnosis and recommendations for reforms.”
Consequently, the Speaker end by appealing to the gathering of honorable ladies and gentlemen of the Highest Judicial body in the ECOWAS region by saying “Please do our region proud. Please stay united and resolved in the dispensation of Justice.”