Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu says he is determined to advance judicial reforms in West Africa as the Chairman of ECOWAS.
Tinubu spoke when he met with a delegation from the ECOWAS Judicial Council led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, at the State House in Abuja, on Thursday.
He said with determined support from ECOWAS states, he would advance judicial reforms in the sub-region.
The president emphasised that integrous and accountable judicial systems would strengthen democracy across West Africa
”We are committed to transformative democracy because we believe the judiciary can protect democracy.
”We are ready to support you as learned minds who have the requisite experience and institutional memory to comprehensively reform our institutions.
“I assure you as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government that the judiciary is one of the pillars to protect our democracy and it is only in this regard that we can make a difference on the continent,” Tinubu stated.
Tinubu congratulated judges from member-states who participated in the two-day council meeting in Abuja, applauding the successful conclusion of their deliberations.
The president assured them that their recommendations would receive utmost consideration by the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
”We will work with you to ensure that your expertise is employed to promote justice in our democratic experiences on the continent and in the region. You are truly the last hope of the common man across our sub-region,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, Justice Ariwoola emphasized the Council’s commitment to facilitating the effective functioning of the ECOWAS judicial system.
According to him, the Council, at the end of its meeting in Abuja, agreed to establish two sub-committees to address pertinent judiciary-related issues in the region.
Ariwoola also said the first sub-committee will look into the rules of procedure of the Council itself, which were found to be inadequate.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria explained that members from Benin Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone have been tasked to work on the rules of procedure on the Judicial Council.
