On Tuesday 23 June 2020, the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, during a virtual press conference, disclosed that the Court commenced its first virtual court session on Monday 22 June 2020.
Justice Asante said the Court was primed for a hectic 2020 by scheduling 60 cases for the period 23 March to 21 October. Of that number, the Court had programmed to deliver 27 judgments and one ruling while the others were to be heard.
“The objective was to make a huge dent in the number of pending cases which as at now stands at 139. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forced the Court to suspend its sittings and lofty ambition in deference to the reality of the pandemic and the advisory of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO),” he maintained.
He added that the Court was not able to deliver judgment in the 27 cases listed during the period, nor hear the 32 cases listed; it also couldn’t consider the 12 applications filed during the period for accelerated hearing.
Justice Asante said in compliance with the aforementioned advisory and in order to resume its critical judicial functions, the Court was compelled to update its Practice Direction to integrate, among other things, the conduct of virtual court sessions and the electronic filing of cases.
Justice Asante said the Court has accordingly invested in remote technology and undertaken the training of stakeholders, including staff, judges and community lawyers, culminating in the simulation of a virtual court session over the last three weeks.
He mentioned the first virtual sessions were held on Monday with one judgment and one hearing, adding: “Hopefully, by 10th July 2020, judgments would have been delivered in 15 other cases, ruling delivered in one and 18 other cases heard by deploying this technology.”
Among other things, Justice Asante said the immense benefits of the system is that there is speedy administration of justice, reduced delays in scheduling of cases, increased productivity, cost efficiency, easy access to the court, enhanced security, enhanced judicial records preservation and accountability.
“The most important advantage to the community citizens is the fact that parties will no more pay airfares and foot hotel bills for themselves and their lawyers to travel to Abuja to attend court.”
On challenges faced by the Court, Justice Asante said it has only three IT staff as certified on its 2018 organogram. “I am here trying to say that, to successfully sustain this kind of activity, there must be enough IT support.”
Some 466 cases, mostly related to the violation of human rights, have been filed before the ECOWAS Court since 2003, when the first case was filed. During this period and as at 19 June 2020, the Court has held 1,048 sessions, delivered 235 judgments, 121 rulings and received 34 applications for the revision of its decisions.
It has also rendered 18 decisions for revision, granted 31 orders and rendered four advisory opinions and more.
