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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has sworn in five new judges to four-year, non-renewable terms.
Senegalese President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government Bassirou Faye swore in the judges on Tuesday in Abuja.
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. The ECOWAS Authority appointed them during its 69th Ordinary Session in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026.
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Their appointment followed the December 2025 Supplementary Act relating to the Community Court of Justice.
Under the Act, the court consists of five independent judges selected from ECOWAS member states. Candidates must have the qualifications required for appointment to a Supreme Court or equivalent court.
They may also be experienced legal advisers with recognised expertise in international law, particularly community or regional integration law. The law also requires candidates to have at least 20 years of professional experience.
Speaking at the ceremony, Faye urged the new judges to uphold impartiality, integrity and the rights of citizens across the region.
“I believe that their commitment is to serve the community in a royal, honourable and impartial way, but also in all conscience,” he said.
Faye said the judges were assuming office at a time when the region faced political, economic, security and environmental challenges. He stressed the need for stronger commitment to human rights and said the court had a key role in protecting citizens.
“By making decisions, it protects the rights, reminds everyone’s obligations and strengthens confidence in our institutions,” Faye said.
The ECOWAS chairman urged the judges to let their oath of office guide their decisions and administer justice fairly, without pressure. He also charged them with strengthening the court and making community justice more effective and accessible.
“The court’s reputation is built on the quality of its decisions and on the confidence that it instils,” he said.
The 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 ended.
Under Article 5 of the Supplementary Act, judges must take an oath of office or make a solemn declaration before the ECOWAS Authority chairman before assuming their duties. The five new judges are expected to elect a president and vice-president from among themselves for two-year terms.
