Abstract
This chapter identifies the institutions of ECOWAS and examines, in detail, the structures, powers, responsibilities, functions and other ancillary or unique features that typify them. Also, it treats extensively the jurisdiction and procedure of the Community Court of Justice for the benefit of lawyers and interested persons who may want to engage the services of the Court. Nonetheless, the chapter opens with a brief primer on the real institutional state of some of the organs of the Community.
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Notes
- 1.
Art. 6 Revised Treaty.
- 2.
Committees are (a) Administrative and Finance; (b) Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources; (c) Human and Gender Development; (d) Infrastructure; (f) Macro Economic Policies; (g) Political Affairs, Peace and Security; (h) Trade, Custom, and Free Movement of Persons; (i) Legal and Judicial Affairs; and (j) Communication and Information Technology.
- 3.
EBID in brief 2009, p. 2; see also Article 27 Revised Treaty as amended by Additional Act A/SA.9/01/07.
- 4.
ECOWAS (www.ecowas.int/insitutions).
- 5.
Mubarik (2015), p. 3.
- 6.
Ibid., p. 4.
- 7.
Ibid.
- 8.
Mubarik (2015).
- 9.
Ibid., p. 7.
- 10.
EBID in brief, p. 10.
- 11.
(1) Revised Treaty.
- 12.
Ibid., Art 7(2).
- 13.
Ibid., (3)(a)–(i).
- 14.
Revised Treaty as amended by Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06.
- 15.
Article. It now reads Article 7(3)(e) Revised Treaty.
- 16.
Article 7.
- 17.
Art 7 (3) (g) Revised Treaty.
- 18.
Ibid.
- 19.
Koschniske v Zwolle 1979, p. 2724.
- 20.
Article 8 Revised Treaty.
- 21.
Art 2 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06 Amending the Treaty.
- 22.
Art. 8 Revised Treaty.
- 23.
Ibid.
- 24.
Article 9 (1) Revised Treaty.
- 25.
Ibid., (4).
- 26.
Ibid., (2).
- 27.
Ibid., (3).
- 28.
Ibid., (5).
- 29.
Ibid., (6).
- 30.
Art. 2(3) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06 amending the Treaty.
- 31.
Ibid., (7).
- 32.
Revised Treaty.
- 33.
A/RES.2/11/84.
- 34.
On the Implementation of the Protocol Relating to the Free Movement.
- 35.
Art. 10 Revised Treaty.
- 36.
Ibid., (2).
- 37.
Ibid., (3) (a)–(e).
- 38.
Art. 11(1)–(2) Revised Treaty.
- 39.
Ibid.
- 40.
Art. 10(3) (a) Revised Treaty.
- 41.
Art. 11(1) Revised Treaty.
- 42.
Ibid., (2).
- 43.
Ibid.
- 44.
Art. 12 Revised Treaty.
- 45.
Ibid.
- 46.
Regulation C/REG.2/06/06 cited in Falana (2010), p. 19.
- 47.
Art. 12(3) Revised Treaty.
- 48.
Ibid.
- 49.
Ibid.
- 50.
Ibid.
- 51.
Ibid.
- 52.
Art. 2 (2) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06.
- 53.
Article 9 (5) (6) (7) Revised Treaty.
- 54.
Article 13 (1).
- 55.
Protocol A/P.2/8/94 Relating to the Community Parliament.
- 56.
Ibid.
- 57.
Article 7—New Paragraph 2(1) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.3/06/06.
- 58.
Ibid., New Article 14 Paragraph 1 (a).
- 59.
Ibid., Paragraph 1 (b).
- 60.
Ibid., Paragraph 1(c).
- 61.
Article 16(1)(2) Supplementary Protocol.
- 62.
Ibid.
- 63.
See Articles 15 and 16 Revised Treaty.
- 64.
Article 17(1) Revised Treaty as amended.
- 65.
Ibid., (2).
- 66.
Ibid.
- 67.
Article 7 (3) (d).
- 68.
Supplementary Protocol A/SP.I/06/06.
- 69.
Art. 18(2) Revised Treaty.
- 70.
Ibid., 3.
- 71.
Authority.
- 72.
Council.
- 73.
2008, pp. 177 and 178.
- 74.
Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/06/06 Amending Revised Treaty.
- 75.
Ibid., (3) (a).
- 76.
Ibid.
- 77.
Ibid., (3)(b).
- 78.
Ibid., (3) (a) (b).
- 79.
Ibid., (3)(b).
- 80.
Ibid., (3) (d).
- 81.
Ibid.
- 82.
Article 19 (1) Revised Treaty.
- 83.
Ibid., (2).
- 84.
Article 1 Supplementary Act A/SA.5/01/08.
- 85.
Ibid.
- 86.
Art. 19 (3) (g) Revised Treaty.
- 87.
Ibid., (3)(h).
- 88.
Ibid., (3)(i).
- 89.
Andrea Francovich, Danila Bonofaci and Anor. v Italian Republic 1991, p. 5415.
- 90.
Supplementary Protocol Relating to the Court.
- 91.
Ibid., Art 10 (a).
- 92.
Article 18 (5) Revised Treaty.
- 93.
Article 6(2).
- 94.
Revised Treaty.
- 95.
Ibid., (2).
- 96.
Ibid., (3).
- 97.
Ibid., (4).
- 98.
Ibid.
- 99.
Ibid.
- 100.
EBID in brief 2009, p. 2, see also Article 27 Revised Treaty as amended by Additional Act A/SA.9/01/07.
- 101.
Revised Treaty 1993 as amended by Additional Act A/SA.9/01/07.
- 102.
EBID in brief 2009, p. 9.
- 103.
Ibid., p. 3.
- 104.
Ibid., p. 4.
- 105.
Ibid., p. 7.
- 106.
Anti-money laundering/counter-financing of terrorism.
- 107.
Article 2 Statutes of GIABA 2006.
- 108.
GIABA (website).
- 109.
Article 15 Statutes of GIABA 2006.
- 110.
Art 11 Treaty 1975.
- 111.
Ibid., Art 15.
- 112.
Ibid., Art 16.
- 113.
Ibid., Art 15(3).
- 114.
Ibid., Art. 15(4).
- 115.
(A/P1/7/91).
- 116.
Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05.
- 117.
Art 2 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06.
- 118.
- 119.
Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06.
- 120.
A/P.1/7/91.
- 121.
Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/1/05.
- 122.
Art 3(4) Protocol A/P.1/7/91.
- 123.
Ibid., (5) (6).
- 124.
Art. 2 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06.
- 125.
Ibid., Art 3.
- 126.
Ibid., (3).
- 127.
Ibid., (4).
- 128.
Art 4 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06.
- 129.
Art 7(1) Protocol Relating to the Community Court.
- 130.
Art 4(1) Decision A/DEC 2/00/06.
- 131.
Art 6 Protocol (A/P1/7/91).
- 132.
Ibid., (2).
- 133.
Hornby (2001), p. 647.
- 134.
2010, pp. 128–129.
- 135.
A/P1/7/91.
- 136.
Ibid., Art. 9 (1).
- 137.
Ibid., (2).
- 138.
Ibid., Article 9 (3).
- 139.
2005, pp. 35–36, paras. 12–16.
- 140.
Art 9(4).
- 141.
Art 10.
- 142.
Olajide Afolabi V Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, p. 16, para. 62.
- 143.
2005, pp. 24–28.
- 144.
The matter was brought under the old law and against an individual.
- 145.
Supplementary Protocol (A/SP.1/01/05).
- 146.
Ibid.
- 147.
Ibid., Art 3.
- 148.
Art 9(1) (a)–(g) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05.
- 149.
Ibid., Art. 9(2).
- 150.
Ibid., Art. 10(d).
- 151.
Hadijatou Koraou v The Republic of Niger 2008, p. 217, Prof. Essien v The Republic of The Gambia and University of the Gambia 2007, p. 95.
- 152.
See Article 9(5)–(8).
- 153.
Art. 9(3).
- 154.
Art 89 of the Rules of the Community Court of Justice.
- 155.
2007, P 28, para 33.
- 156.
Art. 21 of the Revised Treaty.
- 157.
Unless otherwise provided in a protocol.
- 158.
Article 10(a) Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05.
- 159.
Article 10(b).
- 160.
Article 10(c).
- 161.
Art 10(d)(i)(ii).
- 162.
(A/SP.1/01/05).
- 163.
Tidjani v Nigeria 2007, p. 77.
- 164.
See sections 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution (for rights of persons in such situations).
- 165.
Tidjani v Federal Republic of Nigeria supra.
- 166.
Falana (2010), p. 32.
- 167.
Regina v Horseferry Road Magistrates Court 1993, pp. 13–15.
- 168.
Amouzou Henri & ors V The Republic of Cote D’Ivoire 2009, p. 304, para 95.
- 169.
See the long title of the Human Right Act 1998.
- 170.
Section 3(1) Human Right Act 1998.
- 171.
Section 6(1)–(3) Human Right Act 1998.
- 172.
Rinner—Kὕhn v FWW Spezial Gebaudereinigung Gmblt & CO. KG 1981.
- 173.
(A/SP.1/01/05).
- 174.
Qudus Folami &anor. V Community Parliament and ors. 2010, p. 50.
- 175.
Art. 10(f) Supplementary Protocol.
- 176.
(A/SP.1/01/05).
- 177.
Supra.
- 178.
Supra, p. 23, para. 5.
- 179.
1993.
- 180.
Relating to the Community Court.
- 181.
2007, p. 120.
- 182.
2007, pp. 214–215.
- 183.
A/SP.1/06/06.
- 184.
2008, p. 177, para 33.
- 185.
Supplementary Protocol.
- 186.
Ibid., Art. 10 (a).
- 187.
France v United Kingdom 1979 P2924; Case 388/95 Belgium v Spain 2000 PI-3146.
- 188.
2008, p. 25.
- 189.
See Lijadu Oyemade v Executive Secretary ECOWAS (2) 2008, p. 50.
- 190.
Art 10 (c) Supplementary Protocol.
- 191.
Supra.
- 192.
A/SP.1/1/05.
- 193.
Ibid.
- 194.
This access was not included in the old law.
- 195.
Article 10 (d).
- 196.
Article 10 (c).
- 197.
Case 25/62 [1962] ECR 95.
- 198.
Art. 230 (4) Treaty of Rome (EC).
- 199.
Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/1/05.
- 200.
Ibid., Article 9 (1)(g).
- 201.
Ibid.
- 202.
2010, p. 51.
- 203.
Edoh Kokou v ECOWAS Commission ECW/CLJ/JUD/03/2010 cited in Falana (2010), p. 33.
- 204.
2010, p. 161.
- 205.
Supplementary Protocol 2005 op.cit.
- 206.
2009, p. 271 at 280, para. 24.
- 207.
Supplementary Protocol 2005.
- 208.
A/P1/7/91.
- 209.
Hornby (2001), p. 965.
- 210.
Article 1 Rules of the Community Court of Justice.
- 211.
Articles 41 (2)(3), 45(2) Rules of Court.
- 212.
Harris and Horspool (2008), p. 56 relying on Paola Facini Dori V Recreb SRL 1994.
- 213.
Article 14 Protocol A/P1/7/91.
- 214.
Article 33 Rules of the Court.
- 215.
Ibid.
- 216.
Ibid., Article 32.
- 217.
Ibid., Article 33(3).
- 218.
Ibid., Article 33(4).
- 219.
See Article 16 of the 1991 Protocol as amended: At any time the Court may request the parties to produce any document or information.
- 220.
Article 36 (6) of the Rules of Court.
- 221.
Ibid., Article 35(1).
- 222.
Ibid., Article 36 (1).
- 223.
Ibid., Paragraph (2).
- 224.
Article 37(1) of the Rules of Court.
- 225.
Ibid., Paragraph (2).
- 226.
Article 39 of the Rules of Court.
- 227.
Ibid., para (a)–(c).
- 228.
Article 39 (2) of the Rules.
- 229.
Ibid., (3).
- 230.
Article 39 (2) of the Rules.
- 231.
Article 41 (1) of the Rules.
- 232.
Articles 41 (a)–(e) of the Rules.
- 233.
Articles 43 (1) of the Rules.
- 234.
Ibid.
- 235.
Article 43 (3) of the Rules.
- 236.
Ibid., (8).
- 237.
Ibid., (9).
- 238.
Ibid.
- 239.
Ibid., (11) (12).
- 240.
Article 45 (5) of the Rules.
- 241.
Ibid., (6).
- 242.
Ibid., And paragraph 7 clearly states that subject to the control of the President, questions may be put to the expert by the representatives of the parties.
- 243.
Articles 46 (1) of the Rules.
- 244.
Ibid.
- 245.
Ibid., (2).
- 246.
Supra.
- 247.
A non-profit organisation based in Accra, Ghana.
- 248.
Article 43 (6) of the Rules.
- 249.
Ibid.
- 250.
See Article 50 (1) (2) of the Rules.
- 251.
Rules of the Court.
- 252.
Ibid., Article 53.
- 253.
Ibid., Article 55.
- 254.
Ibid., Article 54.
- 255.
Ibid., Article 56.
- 256.
Ibid., Article 58.
- 257.
See Article 35 (b) of the Rules, Article 14 (2) of the Protocol Relating to the Court as amended.
- 258.
Ibid.
- 259.
In Manneh v Gambia (2004–2009) CLJELR, p. 181, the application filed by the plaintiff’s counsel did not contain arguments (in that singular process); see Falana (2010), pp. 120–127.
- 260.
Article 14(4) Protocol Relating to the Court as amended, Article 55 of the Rules.
- 261.
Articles 59 (1)–(8) of the Rules of Court.
- 262.
Article 61 of the Rules of Court.
- 263.
Article 60 of the Rules of Court.
- 264.
Article 64 of the Rules of Court.
- 265.
Article 61 (4) of the Rule of Court.
- 266.
Article 66 (3) of the Rules of Court.
- 267.
Rules of Court.
- 268.
Ibid., (4) (6).
- 269.
Ibid., (1) (b) (c).
- 270.
Ibid., (2).
- 271.
Articles 89 of the Rules.
- 272.
Articles 13 (6), 89 (1) of the Rules.
- 273.
Article 89 (1) (a) (b) (e).
- 274.
Ibid., (f).
- 275.
Ibid., (2).
- 276.
Ibid., (3).
- 277.
Article 89 (4) of the Rules.
- 278.
Ibid., (5).
- 279.
Compare Article 89 (i) with Article 89 (5).
- 280.
Article 90 (1) of the Rules.
- 281.
Article 90 (4) of the Rules.
- 282.
Ibid., (5).
- 283.
Ibid., (3).
- 284.
Ibid., (6).
- 285.
Ibid., (8)–(13).
- 286.
These special appeal jurisdictions are discussed in chapters 9 (staff actions) and 14 (competition policy).
- 287.
Article 92 of the Rules of Court.
- 288.
Article 93 of the Rules of court.
- 289.
Article 94(1) of Rules of Court.
- 290.
Ibid., (2).
- 291.
Article 23 Protocol A/P1/7/91 as amended by A/SP.1/1/O5.
- 292.
Article 95 of the Rules of Court.
- 293.
Ibid.
- 294.
Article 95 (2) of the Rules.
- 295.
Art. 11(1) Protocol A/P1/7/91 as amended by Protocol A/SP.1/1/05.
- 296.
Ibid., (2) (4).
- 297.
Ibid., (3).
- 298.
Request for Advisory opinion from the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS Relating to Article 23 (11) of the Rules of Procedure of the Community Parliament and the provisions of Article 7 (2) and 14 (2) (f) of the Protocol on Community Parliament (2004–2009) CCJELR, p. 55 at 61.
- 299.
Protocol Relating to the Parliament of the Community Article 7 (2).
- 300.
Request for Advisory Opinion supra, p. 59.
- 301.
2008, p. 201.
- 302.
A/SP1/06/06.
- 303.
An acronym for Inter-governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering.
- 304.
Request for opinion supra, p. 216.
- 305.
ECOCOURT Newsletter 2012.
- 306.
Media Foundation for West Africa (2012).
- 307.
The following cases have not been complied with as at 2013: Musa Saidykhan v Gambia, Ebrimah Manneh v Gambia, Djot Bayi v Nigeria, Serap v Nigeria 2009, Serap v Nigeria 2012. Partial compliance: Habré v Senegal, 2010; Ameganvi v Togo, 2011. Situational compliance: Tandja v Niger 2010.
- 308.
Article 24 Protocol Relating to the Community Court as amended.
References
Laws
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999
Decision A/DEC2/00/06 Establishing the Judicial Council of the Community
Directive A/S1R.1/5/79 on the Implementation of the First Phase of the Protocol Relating to Free Movement of Persons, the Right to Residence and Establishment
Directive C/DIR.3/12/88
Human Right Act of the United Kingdom 1998
Protocol A/P1/7/91 Relating to the Community Court of Justice
Protocol A/P.2/8/94 Relating to the Community Parliament
Regulation C/REG.1/05/06
Regulation C/REG.21/05/06
Regulation C/REG.2/06/06
Resolution A/RES.2/11/84 on the Implementation of the First Phase of the Protocol Relating to the Free Movement of Persons, the Right to Residence and Establishment
Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States 1993
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Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05 Amending Protocol A/P1/7/91 Relating to the Community Court of Justice
Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States 1975
Treaty of Rome 1957
Cases
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Hadijatou Karaou v Republic of Niger (2004–2009) CC JELR, p. 217
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Lijadu Oyemade v Executive Secretary of ECOWAS & Ors. (NO 1) [2008] CCJLR [PT1], p. 25
Lijadu Oyemade v Executive Secretary of ECOWAS & Ors. (NO 2) [2008] CCJLR [PT1], p. 50
Linas International v Ambassador of Mali & 2 Ors (2004–2009) CCJELR, p. 28
Marriane nee Koschniske v Zwolle C-9/79 12/7/1979 eu-lex.europa.eu/Lex Uri Serv/Lex UriServi do? Uri = CELEX 61979CJ0009: EN:PDF p2724. Accessed 18 October 2013
Musa Saidykhan v The Republic of Gambia (Unreported) Suit No ECW/CCJ/JUD/08/10 16/12/2010
Olajide Afolabi v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004–2009) CCJELR, p. 16
Odafe Oserada v ECOWAS Council of Ministers & 2 Ors (2004–2009) CCJELR, pp. 177–178
Paola Faccini Dori v Recreb SrL C-91/92 14/7/1994 eu-lex.europa.eu/Lex Uri Serv/Lex UriServi do? Uri = CELEX 61992CJ0091: EN:PDF p 3347. Accessed 21 October 2013
Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States v The Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African& Anor (2004–2009) CCJELR, pp. 35–36
Plauman v Commission, C-25/65 15/7/63 eu-lex.europa.eu/Lex Uri Serv/Lex UriServi do? Uri = CELEX 61962C00025: EN:PDF pp 123–125. Accessed 16 October 2013
Professor Etim Moses Essien v The Republic of Gambia & Anor. (2004–2009) CCJELR, p. 95
Qudus Folami & Anor v Community Parliament & Anor [2010] CCJLR [PT3], p. 50
Regina v Horseferry Road Magistrates Court ex parte Bennet 24/6/1993 www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1993/10.html, pp. 13–15. Accessed 14 November 2013
Request for Advisory Opinion from the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS Relating to Article 23(11) of the Rules of Procedure of the Community Parliament and the provisions of Article 79(2) and 14(2)(f) of the Protocol on the Community Parliament (2004–2009) CCJELR, pp. 59, 61
Request for Advisory Opinion by the President of ECOWAS Commission on the Renewal of the Tenure of Director General and Deputy Director General of GIABA (2004–2009) CCJELR, pp. 201, 216
Ukor v Laleye & Anor. (2004–2009) CCJELR, pp. 24–28
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Ukaigwe, J. (2016). Institutions of the Community. In: ECOWAS Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26233-8_3
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