New leadership has emerged at the Community Court of Justice, Economic Community of West African States simply called ECOWAS Court as Honourable Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves was elected new President of the judiciary arm of the regional bloc.
Also elected is Honourable Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma elected as the new Vice President
A statement from the court said Honourable Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves has been elected as the new President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice on Monday, October 14, 2024, for a two-year term of office, following an election by the college of five judges of the Court.
Hon. Justice Gonçalves succeeds Hon. Justice Edward Amoako Asante who led the Court for six years since assuming office on July 31, 2018.
In the same election, Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma was elected as Vice-President, succeeding Hon Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara.
Justice Ricardo C.M. Gonçalves from Cabo Verde and Justice Sengu M. Koroma from Sierra Leone were sworn-in on Thursday, October 6, 2022 in Guinea Bissau by former President of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo for a non-renewable term of four (4) years.
In his inaugural speech, the President-elect, Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves outlined his vision for the Court, which focused on two fundamental pillars: responsibility and dialogue.
He emphasised the responsibility entrusted to the Court by the ECOWAS laws establishing the Court. He also stressed the need to uphold the institution’s mission as an independent, reliable, efficient, and accessible court.
He expressed his commitment to foster continuous dialogue with other institutions and agencies of ECOWAS, Member States, civil societies among others, while also ensuring financial prudence in the administration of the institution’s fund.
The other three judges of the Court are the out-going president, Justice Edward Amoako Asante (Ghana), the out-going vice-president, Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire) andJustice Dupe Atoki (Nigeria).
Nigerian Government Says Super Eagles Was Placed in Detention
The Nigerian government has described the incident with the National team, the Super Eagles in Libya as a detention.
The government in a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe said it received with dismay the news of the unfortunate detention of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials and the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Al Abraq International Airport several hours after arriving ahead of Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya.
The statement said: “To resolve the incident, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, initiated a phone call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Eastern Government, Dr. Abdulhadi Lahweej. This spawned a series of actions, culminating in steps taken to assuage the officials and reassure the players of their safety. Subsequently, the contingent departed for Nigeria.
“In ending the phone conversation, Amb. Tuggar commended the authorities’ actions in resolving the incident, and both Ministers appreciated the amicable resolution of the unfortunate situation in the spirit of African brotherhood.”
