February 17, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has confronted the Federal Republic of Nigeria over its persistent failure to enforce and comply with multiple court rulings, intensifying concerns about the rule of law and legal accountability in West Africa’s biggest economy.
According to the ECOWAS Court President, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, Nigeria — a founding member and significant political leader within the bloc has failed to implement a large portion of the judgments delivered against it since the regional court became operational. At a bilateral meeting in Abuja on February 17, 2026, the court urged Nigeria to take urgent action to comply with its rulings and help uphold the credibility of the regional justice system.
Compliance Figures Highlight Enforcement Gap
Justice Gonçalves disclosed that 128 cases have been instituted against Nigeria before the ECOWAS Court since its establishment, of which only 10 have been executed while 52 remain unimplemented. The remaining cases are either closed or still pending execution, according to the court’s own records. The president noted that failures to enforce judgments weaken the authority of the court and erode public confidence in justice across the region.
This enforcement deficit reflects a wider problem across the region: statistics compiled by civil society organisations and media sources show that Nigeria tops the list of non-compliance among member states, with dozens of outstanding rulings that have not been honoured by government authorities. In fact, Nigeria accounts for the highest number of unenforced court orders compared with other West African states, highlighting a chronic challenge for regional law enforcement.
Why Enforcement Matters
The ECOWAS Court’s judgments are final, binding, and legally enforceable under regional treaties but the court does not have direct enforcement powers of its own, relying instead on member states such as Nigeria to implement decisions domestically. When states fail to comply, critics argue this undermines the very foundation of regional justice, weakens the rule of law, and diminishes citizens’ access to legal redress on matters that span human rights, trade, and governance.
Nigeria’s Attorney-General acknowledged that the enforcement gap is not always due to refusal to comply, but often stems from coordination challenges, administrative and legal complexity, and political sensitivity — especially in cases touching on constitutional or public policy matters. Nonetheless, the court insisted that compliance is a treaty obligation freely undertaken by Nigeria when it ratified the ECOWAS legal framework.
Wider Implications
The confrontation at Abuja marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s relationship with ECOWAS institutions, drawing attention to how regional justice mechanisms operate when a powerful member state appears reluctant or slow to enforce court orders. Legal experts warn that sustained non-compliance could diminish the influence of supranational courts and weaken regional integration, particularly in areas where legal predictability and accountability are essential to investor confidence and human rights protections.
The ECOWAS Court’s appeal to Nigeria to “lead by example” underscores the expectation that major member states should implement judicial decisions promptly not just to satisfy legal obligations, but to preserve the integrity of regional legal architecture and reinforce West Africa’s commitment to justice and democratic norms.