Abuja, Nigeria — President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, has called for renewed dedication to institutional collaboration, efficiency, and accountability as key pillars of the Court’s service delivery.
He made the call at the opening of the 2025 Judicial Retreat held from October 26 to 31, 2025, at Zuma Resort, Niger State, Nigeria.
In his address, Justice Gonçalves described the annual retreat as a vital platform for reflection, institutional strengthening, and performance evaluation.
He commended judges and staff for their commitment throughout the judicial year and for the successful organisation of the 2025/2026 Legal Year Opening Ceremony, which he said reaffirmed the judiciary’s central role in deepening the ECOWAS integration agenda.
“The credibility of this Court is not written merely in our statutes,” Justice Gonçalves stated. “It is built daily through our conduct, our diligence, and our unity of purpose. This retreat should therefore serve as a renewal of our commitment, discipline, and integrity in the service of justice.”
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He identified five key priorities for the coming year:
- Strengthening collaboration between judges’ chambers and administrative departments.
- Institutionalising the implementation of retreat recommendations.
- Upholding discipline and ethics as non-negotiable values in service.
- Enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of judicial processes.
- Promoting unity and institutional loyalty within the Court.
Earlier, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, Chief Registrar of the Court, outlined the retreat’s objectives and expected outcomes. He said the retreat aims to “reinforce staff capacity to effectively support the Honourable Judges in their judicial work” and foster improved efficiency, productivity, and synergy in service delivery.
According to him, participants will also explore comparative practices from other international courts and strengthen their understanding of procedural laws governing the ECOWAS Court.
The week-long retreat, themed “Efficiency and Effectiveness: Streamlining Processes for a Dynamic ECOWAS Court,” will feature performance reviews, assessments of past recommendations, and discussions on judicial reforms, summary hearings, interim measures, and accelerated procedures.
Expected outcomes include the adoption of the Annual Performance Report (October 2024–October 2025) and the Manual of Disciplinary Procedure for Staff, aimed at improving accountability and institutional discipline.
