Gambiaj.com – (ABUJA, Nigeria) – Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, has pledged to implement the recommendations arising from the Court’s five-day Judicial Retreat, which concluded on 31 October 2025 in Niger State, Nigeria.
In his closing remarks, Justice Gonçalves reaffirmed the court’s commitment to executing the retreat’s outcomes in accordance with its strategic framework and timelines.
He urged staff members to uphold diligence and professionalism in discharging their duties and to continue providing strong institutional support to the judges in the exercise of their judicial functions.
The retreat, held from 26 to 31 October 2025 under the theme “Efficiency and Effectiveness: Streamlining Processes for a Dynamic ECOWAS Court,” brought together judges, the chief registrar, directors, heads of divisions and units, executive assistants to the honorable judges, registry and legal officers, and other key staff of the Court.
Discussions and presentations focused on six critical areas, including the Court’s annual performance report for October 2024 to October 2025, expedited procedures and provisional measures, comparative analysis of practices before international and regional courts, applicability of procedural laws, and the roles of the President, Judge Rapporteur, and Chief Registrar.
Participants also reviewed the implementation of recommendations from previous retreats and examined the newly presented Manual of Disciplinary Procedure.
Key outcomes of the retreat included a deeper understanding of international and regional court practices, clarification of procedural laws and institutional responsibilities, and the adoption of the Manual of Disciplinary Procedure.
Other resolutions addressed enhanced inter-departmental collaboration, improved stakeholder engagement and external relations, optimization of language services, and the strengthening of the Electronic Case Management System (ECMS).
The annual judicial retreat serves as a vital platform for reflection and strategic development, enabling the ECOWAS Court to refine its operational processes, reinforce institutional efficiency, and maintain its reputation as a dynamic and credible regional judicial institution.
