ECOWAS Court Swears In Five New Judges in Abuja
The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States has sworn in five new judges for a four-year, non-renewable term.
The new judges are Justice Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin, Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Justice Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, Justice Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
They took the oath of office on Tuesday in Abuja before the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The judges were appointed by the ECOWAS Authority at its 69th Ordinary Session in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026, pursuant to the Supplementary Act on the Community Court of Justice adopted in December 2025.
Under the new framework, the court comprises five independent judges drawn from nationals of ECOWAS member states who meet the professional qualifications required for appointment to a Supreme Court or equivalent judicial institution, or who are experienced legal practitioners with recognised expertise in international law, particularly community or regional integration law.
The law also requires prospective judges to have at least 20 years of professional experience.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Faye charged the new judges to discharge their responsibilities with impartiality, integrity and a strong commitment to protecting the rights of citizens across the West African region.
He said the judges must serve the community with a sense of honour and conscience while ensuring that their decisions were guided by justice and independence.
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Faye noted that the ceremony came at a critical period for the region, which continues to face political, economic, security and environmental challenges.
He stressed the importance of strengthening respect for human rights and public confidence in regional institutions, noting that the Community Court had a central role to play in safeguarding citizens’ rights and reinforcing the rule of law.
According to him, the court’s decisions should not only protect citizens’ rights but also remind individuals and institutions of their obligations and strengthen confidence in ECOWAS institutions.
The ECOWAS chairman urged the judges to allow the oath they had taken to guide their conduct and decisions, stressing that they must administer justice fairly and carry out their duties without external pressure.
He also tasked them with contributing to the strengthening of the court and making community justice more effective and accessible to citizens across the region.
Faye said the reputation of the court would ultimately depend on the quality of its judgments and the confidence those decisions inspire among citizens and member states.
The five judges succeeded Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves of Cape Verde, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma of Sierra Leone, Justice Dupe Atoki of Nigeria, Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire and Justice Edward Amoako Asante of Ghana, whose four-year tenure has ended.
Under Article 5 of the Supplementary Act, judges of the Community Court are required to take an oath of office or make a solemn declaration before the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority before assuming their judicial responsibilities.
The newly sworn-in judges are expected to elect a president and vice-president from among themselves for two-year terms.
By PRNigeria
