Reforms: ECOWAS Decries Reduction Of Judges

President of the court, Justice Jerome Traore made this known
during the ongoing ninth judicial retreat of the court in Nasarawa
State on Wednesday.

Traore said the decision of the authorities to reduce the number
of judges from seven to five would “not augur well for the
court”.

NAN reports that the the institutional reforms was announced in
Monrovia, during the statutory meetings of the ECOWAS on June
2017.

Traore said that it was pertinent to strengthen the court to
ensure effectiveness in its functions.

“The least that can be said, is that the institutional reforms
announced in Monrovia, during the recent statutory meetings held in
June 2017, does not augur well for the development of community
justice in our sub regional space.

“Against all odds, it is a paradox that this was the time chosen
to proceed with a reduction in the number of judges from seven
currently, to only five, if the envisaged reforms were
implemented.

“At a time when more litigants are coming before the court, it
becomes more necessary than ever to strengthen our court and
surround it with all the guarantees of independence and
efficiency.”

He said that part of the aim of the retreat would be to
deliberate on the reforms and come up with measures to “reverse”
the decision to reduce the number of judges.

Also, Mr Tony Anene-Maidoh, Chief Registrar of the court,
however, said that the court had yet to receive an official
proposal to that effect.

Anene-Maidoh further explained that there were ongoing
institutional reforms across all ECOWAS institutions aimed at
saving costs.

“We have been reliably informed that there is a proposal to
reduce the number of the judges of the court from seven to five; we
are still waiting for the proposal to be communicated to the court
officially, but we intend to respond.

“The new proposal is very devastating for the court because a
time that calls for the establishment of an appellate chamber
within the court is not a time to contemplate reduction.

“Judges are statutory appointees and there is a decision by the
ECOWAS authorities to reduce the number of statutory appointees to
save cost,” he said.

He also added that the court was currently not satisfied with
the tenure of the judges and urged for a review in line with global
best practices.

“Initially it was five years which could be renewed; it was
reduced to four years, non-renewable and this does not happen in
other international tribunals and is not in the interest of the
community or the court.”

He said that the retreat would examine the organisation and
functioning of the court in view of the ongoing institutional
reforms.

He also said the meeting would review the recommendations of
past judicial retreats for implementation to further strengthen the
effectiveness of the court.

The ninth judicial retreat has as its theme “The ECOWAS Court of
Justice: Prospects for Growth”.

Other objectives include deliberations on the organisation and
automation of court processes, collaboration with other
institutions and the enforcement of the decisions of the court.

President of the court, Justice Jerome Traore made this known
during the ongoing ninth judicial retreat of the court in Nasarawa
State on Wednesday.

Traore said the decision of the authorities to reduce the number
of judges from seven to five would “not augur well for the
court”.

NAN reports that the the institutional reforms was announced in
Monrovia, during the statutory meetings of the ECOWAS on June
2017.

Traore said that it was pertinent to strengthen the court to
ensure effectiveness in its functions.

“The least that can be said, is that the institutional reforms
announced in Monrovia, during the recent statutory meetings held in
June 2017, does not augur well for the development of community
justice in our sub regional space.

“Against all odds, it is a paradox that this was the time chosen
to proceed with a reduction in the number of judges from seven
currently, to only five, if the envisaged reforms were
implemented.

“At a time when more litigants are coming before the court, it
becomes more necessary than ever to strengthen our court and
surround it with all the guarantees of independence and
efficiency.”

He said that part of the aim of the retreat would be to
deliberate on the reforms and come up with measures to “reverse”
the decision to reduce the number of judges.

Also, Mr Tony Anene-Maidoh, Chief Registrar of the court,
however, said that the court had yet to receive an official
proposal to that effect.

Anene-Maidoh further explained that there were ongoing
institutional reforms across all ECOWAS institutions aimed at
saving costs.

“We have been reliably informed that there is a proposal to
reduce the number of the judges of the court from seven to five; we
are still waiting for the proposal to be communicated to the court
officially, but we intend to respond.

“The new proposal is very devastating for the court because a
time that calls for the establishment of an appellate chamber
within the court is not a time to contemplate reduction.

“Judges are statutory appointees and there is a decision by the
ECOWAS authorities to reduce the number of statutory appointees to
save cost,” he said.

He also added that the court was currently not satisfied with
the tenure of the judges and urged for a review in line with global
best practices.

“Initially it was five years which could be renewed; it was
reduced to four years, non-renewable and this does not happen in
other international tribunals and is not in the interest of the
community or the court.”

He said that the retreat would examine the organisation and
functioning of the court in view of the ongoing institutional
reforms.

He also said the meeting would review the recommendations of
past judicial retreats for implementation to further strengthen the
effectiveness of the court.

The ninth judicial retreat has as its theme “The ECOWAS Court of
Justice: Prospects for Growth”.

Other objectives include deliberations on the organisation and
automation of court processes, collaboration with other
institutions and the enforcement of the decisions of the court.