ECOWAS Court Initiates Review of Rules of Procedure for Enhanced Efficiency

• ECOWAS Court conducts a three-day judicial retreat in Nigeria to review rules, enhance efficiency, and address performance gaps
• Focus areas include special proceedings, judgments, service, registrar roles, and collective efforts to strengthen the Court’s case law

The ECOWAS Court is undertaking a comprehensive review of its rules of procedure to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. The three-day judicial retreat, inaugurated on November 13, 2023, in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, allows judges and key staff to assess the Court’s performance and address any identified gaps for a more effective discharge of its mandate.

Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the President of the Court, outlined the focus areas of the retreat, which include special forms of proceedings, judgments and their execution, service of legal documents, the roles of the chief registrar and other registrars, and the support provided by the registry and legal research department.

The President emphasized the importance of collective contributions to address key challenges and recommend strengthening the Court’s case law. He highlighted the Court’s role in realizing the socio-economic well-being of the estimated 300 million citizens in the 15 member states of ECOWAS through economic integration.

Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, the Chief Registrar, underscored that the periodic review of the Rules of Procedure aligns with Article 32 of the 2005 Supplementary Protocol on the Court. He expected that the output of the judicial retreat would significantly impact the Court’s case management processes and foster efficient collaboration among the judges, the registry, and the Legal Research Department.

WAEC adopts CBT for conduct of WASSCE

On Monday, the West African Examinations Council, WAEC said it would conduct computer-based WASSCE for Private candidates.

WAEC, in a statement issued by the Public Affairs Department and signed by Moyosola F. Adesina, the Ag. Head Public Affairs WAEC, Yaba, Lagos, also said that the registration for the examination will commence on Monday, December 18, 2023.

The statement partly read, “In line with global best practices, the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) wishes to inform the general public, and all its stakeholders, that it has concluded plans to migrate its WASSCE for Private Candidates Examination Diets from Paper and Pencil Test to Computer Based Examination (CBE).