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Sources of ECOWAS Law

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ECOWAS Law

Abstract

This chapter unearths where the institutions of ECOWAS derive the set of laws which they apply or interpret in the performance of their duties. For instance, if a Nigerien citizen invokes the jurisdiction of the Court on account of violation of the people’s right in his local community, would the Court rely on Niger’s national rules or on other sets of laws? One of the factors that would determine the choice the Court would make is whether the laws it wants to rely on, for the purpose of determining the dispute, are applicable within the ECOWAS jurisdiction. So what is this set of laws which the Court would apply or interpret whenever its jurisdiction is invoked? The answer to this question would be found in the remaining part of this chapter. Nonetheless, the chapter would, prior to the discourse on what constitute sources of law, explain that the term ‘sources of law’ relates more to ‘legal authority to use a law or instrument’ than to ‘historical derivation of a law or instrument’. It will also portray different attempts made at classifying the laws of ECOWAS.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Hornby (2001), p. 64.

  2. 2.

    Ibid.

  3. 3.

    Statutes of International Court of Justice 1945.

  4. 4.

    Statutes of International Court of Justice 1945.

  5. 5.

    Islamic Republic of Mauritania withdrew her membership in 2000.

  6. 6.

    Co-operation in Food: Arts 6–24; in Science: Arts 26–28; in Environment: Arts 29–31; etc.

  7. 7.

    Art 1 para 18 Revised Treaty.

  8. 8.

    Mousa Leo keita v state of Mali 2007, p. 72; Professor Essien v Republic of Gambia 2007, p. 102, Karaou v The Republic of Niger 2007, p. 227.

  9. 9.

    1993.

  10. 10.

    Ibid.

  11. 11.

    Art. 89 Revised Treaty.

  12. 12.

    Revised Treaty (transitional and savings provision).

  13. 13.

    Study generally the United Nation Convention on the Law of Treaties.

  14. 14.

    Hornby (2001), p. 938.

  15. 15.

    Ibid.

  16. 16.

    Art 1 Revised Treaty 1993.

  17. 17.

    See introduction.

  18. 18.

    Art 1 Treaty.

  19. 19.

    Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05.

  20. 20.

    Femi Falana & anor. V Republic of Benin &14 ors 2010, p. 113, Musa Saidy Khan v Republic of Gambia 2009, p. 58.

  21. 21.

    CNDD v Cote d’Ivoire 2009, p. 311.

  22. 22.

    Art 39 Protocol A/SP1/12/01 and Art 10(d) Supplementary Protocol. A/SP.1/01/05; Musa Saidykhan 2009.

  23. 23.

    Art. 1 Treaty.

  24. 24.

    Ibid.

  25. 25.

    Olajide Afolabi v Federal Government of Nigeria 2004, p. 77.

  26. 26.

    Mousa Leo keita case 2007, p. 72.

  27. 27.

    Hissence Habre v Republic of Senegal (unreported) 2010, p. 35.

  28. 28.

    A/SP.1/01/05.

  29. 29.

    Linas International Nigeria Limited 2009, p. 280.

  30. 30.

    Request for Advisory Opinion 2005, p. 60.

  31. 31.

    Odafe Oserada V ECOWAS Council of Ministers 2008, p. 176.

  32. 32.

    Protocol A/P1./7/91.

  33. 33.

    Lijadu Oyemade (No 3) 2008, p. 93.

  34. 34.

    Ugokwe v Federal Republic of Nigeria 2005, p. 49.

  35. 35.

    Djotbayi Talbia & 14 or V Fed Rep.Nigeria 2009, pp. 268–269.

  36. 36.

    Treaty.

  37. 37.

    Art 1 Treaty.

  38. 38.

    Hornby (2001), p. 252.

  39. 39.

    Protocol A/P.1/7/91 Relating to the Community Court.

  40. 40.

    Art 1 para 18 Revised Treaty.

  41. 41.

    Art. 1 Revised Treaty.

  42. 42.

    Rules of the Court 2002.

  43. 43.

    Executive Secretary of ECOWAS v Tokunbo Lijadu Oyemade 2008, p. 116.

  44. 44.

    A/P4/5/82.

  45. 45.

    A/P2/5/82.

  46. 46.

    Revised Treaty.

  47. 47.

    Art. 2(2) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06.

  48. 48.

    Supplementary Act A/SA.3/01/10.

  49. 49.

    Art 9 of Revised Treaty was amended by Supplementary Act.

  50. 50.

    ECOWAS Newsletter.

  51. 51.

    Ibid.

  52. 52.

    Supplementary Act A/SA.5/01/07; Supplementary Act A/SA.2/01/07; Supplementary Act A/SA.4/01/07.

  53. 53.

    Art. 1 para. 2 Revised Treaty.

  54. 54.

    Art. 7 Revised Treaty.

  55. 55.

    Ibid.

  56. 56.

    Ibid.

  57. 57.

    Art 9 para. 4 Treaty.

  58. 58.

    Ibid.

  59. 59.

    See generally Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06.

  60. 60.

    Ibid.

  61. 61.

    Ibid.

  62. 62.

    Art. 89 Treaty as amended by Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06.

  63. 63.

    Revised Treaty.

  64. 64.

    Defrenne V Sabenna 1976 Pp. 474–475.

  65. 65.

    Ibid.

  66. 66.

    Peter David V Ambassador Uwechue 2010, p. 134.

  67. 67.

    Pinheiro v Republic of Ghana 2012, p. 10.

  68. 68.

    Art. 10 (1) Revised Treaty.

  69. 69.

    Art. 10 (2) Revised Treaty.

  70. 70.

    Art. 10 (3)(a) Revised Treaty.

  71. 71.

    Art. 10 (3)(b) Revised Treaty.

  72. 72.

    Art. 10 (3)(g) Revised Treaty.

  73. 73.

    Art. 10 (3)(h) Treaty.

  74. 74.

    Art. 10 (3)(i) Treaty.

  75. 75.

    Art 12 (1) Treaty.

  76. 76.

    Ibid., 12(2).

  77. 77.

    Art 12 (3) Treaty.

  78. 78.

    Ibid.

  79. 79.

    Authority here refers to Heads of State: Art 7(1).

  80. 80.

    Art 12(4) Revised Treaty.

  81. 81.

    Art 9(5).

  82. 82.

    Art 12(3).

  83. 83.

    Ibid.

  84. 84.

    Art 9(6).

  85. 85.

    Article 2(2) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06.

  86. 86.

    Treaty.

  87. 87.

    Oserada v ECOWAS Council of Ministers 2008, p. 176.

  88. 88.

    C/REG.5/06/06.

  89. 89.

    Oserada case 2008, p. 177.

  90. 90.

    ECOWAS Newsletter.

  91. 91.

    Art. 7 (3) (a) Revised Treaty 1993.

  92. 92.

    See generally the functions of the Council: Art 10(3) a–i Revised Treaty.

  93. 93.

    Ibid., (c).

  94. 94.

    Art 7(3) h Revised Treaty 1993.

  95. 95.

    Art 10 (3) h Revised Treaty.

  96. 96.

    Art 11(1) Protocol A/P.1/7/91.

  97. 97.

    Request for Advisory Opinion 2005, p. 55.

  98. 98.

    Art 11 (1) Protocol A/P.1/7/91 as amended.

  99. 99.

    See Art 10(3) h and Art 7(3)(h) Revised Treaty.

  100. 100.

    For instance, Economic Partnership Agreement 2010.

  101. 101.

    2005, p. 50.

  102. 102.

    Art 11 (1) Protocol A/P.1/7/91.

  103. 103.

    Van Gend en loos v Nederlandse Administrate der Belastingen, p. 16.

  104. 104.

    Van Duyn v Home Office 1974, p. 1349.

  105. 105.

    Art 9 (b) Protocol (A/P1/7/91) as amended by Art 3 Supplementary Protocol 2005.

  106. 106.

    Community Court of Justice, (ECOWAS).

  107. 107.

    Art 9(1)(c) Supplementary Protocol 2005.

  108. 108.

    Ibid.

  109. 109.

    Abc of International Law, p. 32.

  110. 110.

    C/RES.1/12/88.

  111. 111.

    C/RES.4/5/90.

  112. 112.

    Mousa Leo Keita v State of Mali 2007, p. 72.

  113. 113.

    Art 38(1)(a) Statutes of ICJ.

  114. 114.

    Ibid., (b).

  115. 115.

    Ibid., (c).

  116. 116.

    Ibid., (d).

  117. 117.

    A publicist.

  118. 118.

    Art 20 A/P1./7/91 (now 21) as amended by (A/SP.1/01/05).

  119. 119.

    Art 21 Protocol Relating the Community.

  120. 120.

    Falana (2010), p. 14.

  121. 121.

    Hornby (2001), p. 661.

  122. 122.

    Protocol A/P1/7/91.

  123. 123.

    Hornby (2001), p. 805.

  124. 124.

    Falana v The Republic of Benin 2012, p. 15.

  125. 125.

    Internationale Handelsgesellschaft 1970, pp. 1129–1130.

  126. 126.

    Protocol A/SP.1/01/05.

  127. 127.

    1969.

  128. 128.

    Article 31.

  129. 129.

    Art 3 Revised Treaty.

  130. 130.

    Statutes of ICJ 1945.

  131. 131.

    Word Reference.

  132. 132.

    Word Reference.

  133. 133.

    Falana (2010), p. 9.

  134. 134.

    Statutes of International Court of Justice 1945.

  135. 135.

    1981.

  136. 136.

    Article 38 Statutes of International Court of Justice 1945.

  137. 137.

    1981.

  138. 138.

    Mousa Leo Keita v states of Mali 2007, p. 72.

  139. 139.

    Ibid.

  140. 140.

    (A/SP.1/01/05).

  141. 141.

    Article 9.

  142. 142.

    Ibid., Paragraph 13.

  143. 143.

    Article 9.

  144. 144.

    2007, p. 72.

  145. 145.

    Tidjanni v Federal Republic of Nigeria 2007, p. 84.

References

Laws

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maxlaw Consulting, London, UK

    Jerry Ukaigwe (Director, Former Lecturer)

  2. School of Law, Zenith University College, Accra, Ghana

    Jerry Ukaigwe (Director, Former Lecturer)

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Ukaigwe, J. (2016). Sources of ECOWAS Law. In: ECOWAS Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26233-8_2

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