The ECOWAS Court of Justice is set to hold a sensitisation outreach and external court sessions in Lagos. These activities will run from May 5 to 16, 2025.
The court announced the programme as part of efforts to engage citizens and improve public access to regional justice.
The sensitisation outreach will run from May 5 to 7, 2025. Court hearings will follow from May 8 to 16, at designated venues.
According to the ECOWAS Court, this initiative aligns with Article 26(2) of the 1991 Protocol that established the regional court.
Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, President of the ECOWAS Court, described the programme as a vital step toward regional integration.
He said the court seeks to build trust with citizens and strengthen its reputation as a guardian of justice and human rights.
During the Lagos sessions, the Court will hear 35 cases involving 12 ECOWAS Member States, according to court officials.
Highlights include a legal forum for lawyers and students, a town hall meeting, judicial dialogues, press briefings, and media interviews.
The ECOWAS Court said it will also meet with members of the Lagos State judiciary to promote legal cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
Dignitaries expected at the opening include the Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria’s Chief Justice, the Attorney General, and ECOWAS leaders.
Civil society groups, lawyers, human rights advocates, and the public have been invited to attend and participate in the outreach.
The court said this move aims to deepen citizens’ understanding of its role and promote justice access at the grassroots level.
This will be the first time the Court will hold sessions of this magnitude in Lagos since its establishment.
Organisers believe the court’s presence in Lagos will boost awareness of its work and foster confidence in regional legal processes.
The ECOWAS Court is responsible for ensuring Member States respect treaty obligations and safeguard fundamental rights across the West African region.
