The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has charged five newly appointed judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice to uphold the rule of law, impartiality and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, Faye, who administered the oath of office, President Faye said that the ceremony carried significant importance because it represented the commitment of the judges to serving the Community, dispensing justice impartially and acting in good conscience.
He said that the region was facing unprecedented political, economic, security and environmental challenges, making adherence to the rule of law critical to collective action and regional integration.
According to him, the ECOWAS Court has a central responsibility to ensure respect for treaties and other major legal instruments of the Community.
He said that through its decisions, the Court protects rights, reminds individuals and institutions of their obligations and strengthens confidence in ECOWAS institutions.
Faye urged the new judges to allow the oath they have taken to guide every decision they will make during their tenure.
“The oath you have just taken must guide each of your decisions. It enjoins you to render justice to all with equity, to examine each case in your soul and conscience, and to exercise your responsibilities with impartiality, without yielding to pressure, whatever its origin,” he said.
The ECOWAS Chairman further urged the judges to constantly reflect on the principles contained in their oath, particularly when making decisions.
Local media reports quoted President Faye as saying that the credibility of the Court would depend largely on the quality of its judgments and the confidence those decisions inspired.
Faye also called on the new judges to contribute to modernising the Court and making community justice more effective, accessible and acceptable to the people of West Africa.
The ECOWAS Chairman commended the outgoing judges for their service to the Community, saying their integrity and commitment had contributed to the development of community law and the promotion of justice, human rights and regional integration.
The five judges are Mr. Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin Republic, Hon. Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Mrs. Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, Mrs. Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
The judges were appointed for a non-renewable four-year term by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Session held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026.
GIK/APA