The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday, 16 February 2026, received a high-level delegation from the ECOWAS Court of Justice at its National Secretariat in Abuja, as part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The delegation paid a courtesy visit to the President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, during a bilateral engagement focused on the persistent challenges surrounding the enforcement of judgments of the ECOWAS Court of Justice within Member States, particularly Nigeria.
Welcoming the delegation, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Ebeiere Ekpese, introduced members of the ECOWAS delegation, the NBA leadership, and officials of the NBA Secretariat. In his welcome address, the NBA President described the visit as timely and significant, noting that the enforceability of court judgments is central to the credibility and authority of any judicial institution.
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, reiterated that the NBA, as the umbrella body of all legal practitioners in Nigeria with over 200,000 members across more than 130 branches nationwide, is committed to promoting the rule of law and strengthening judicial institutions at both national and regional levels. He emphasized that courts risk losing public confidence where their judgments are not effectively enforced, and assured the delegation of the NBA’s willingness to collaborate with the ECOWAS Court of Justice to address enforcement gaps.
The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, in his remarks, explained that the visit formed part of a series of regional engagements approved under the Court’s anniversary programme, aimed at tackling the non-enforcement of its judgments. He disclosed that similar bilateral meetings had recently been held in Sierra Leone, with further engagements scheduled for Guinea-Conakry.
According to him, the programme of activities includes courtesy visits, stakeholder engagements, and high-level meetings, including a scheduled meeting with Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He noted that several presentations would be made on the causes, consequences, and existing responses to non-enforcement of ECOWAS Court judgments, as well as future strategies to enhance compliance and credibility across the region.
In further remarks, the General Secretary of the NBA, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Court delegation for the visit, describing it as symbolic of the enduring partnership between regional judicial institutions and the Nigerian Bar Association. He reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to supporting constitutionalism, the rule of law, and regional justice mechanisms.
The visit concluded with mutual assurances of continued engagement and collaboration, as both institutions underscored the importance of collective efforts in ensuring that judgments of the ECOWAS Court of Justice are respected, enforced, and accorded full legal effect within Member States.
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