ECOWAS Court Inaugurates Five New Judges for Four-Year Tenure
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
Rita Onuoha
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sworn in five new judges to serve a four-year non-renewable tenure.
The new judges are Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin, Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, 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 appointments followed the decision of the ECOWAS Authority at its 69th Ordinary Session held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026.
The judges were appointed under the December 2025 Supplementary Act on the Community Court of Justice, which introduced new provisions governing the composition and qualification of judges of the regional court.
Under the new framework, the Community Court is composed of five independent judges selected from ECOWAS member states.
The Supplementary Act provides that candidates must possess qualifications required for appointment to a Supreme Court or an equivalent judicial institution. Alternatively, candidates may be experienced legal advisers with recognised expertise in international law.
Candidates are also required to have at least 20 years of professional experience before they can be considered for appointment to the regional court.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, President Faye charged the newly appointed judges to discharge their responsibilities with impartiality, integrity and a firm commitment to the protection of citizens’ rights across West Africa.
He said the ECOWAS Court has a critical responsibility in safeguarding fundamental rights, ensuring that governments and regional institutions respect their obligations and strengthening public confidence in ECOWAS institutions.
Faye urged the judges to administer justice fairly and independently, stressing the need for them to carry out their duties without political or other forms of pressure.
According to him, the effectiveness of the regional justice system depends on the ability of the court to deliver impartial justice and make community justice more accessible to citizens.
The President also emphasised the importance of strengthening the court’s role in promoting the rule of law and protecting the rights of people within the ECOWAS region.
The five new judges replace 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 expired.
The new judicial team is expected to elect a president and vice-president from among themselves. The two office holders will serve two-year terms.
The changes come as ECOWAS continues efforts to strengthen its regional institutions and improve access to justice within the West African integration framework.
The Community Court of Justice is one of the key institutions of ECOWAS and plays a role in interpreting and applying community law, including matters relating to human rights and obligations arising from regional legal instruments.
The new judges are expected to begin their judicial responsibilities with a mandate to uphold independence, fairness and the rule of law while contributing to greater public confidence in the regional justice system.
By Rita Onuoha
