Gist don land my people! President of Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, don host Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, wey be President of ECOWAS Court, for Abuja. Dem sit down yan about wetin dey happen for West Africa wey carry plenty wahala, especially dis non-enforcement of court judgments matter.
As dem dey chop suya and gist, dem realize say if court decisions no dey respected, e go turn say we dey joke with justice. Na wetin Osigwe talk o! He no wan make we forget say when court pronounce law, e suppose get serious backing. If dem no obey, e be like paper wey dem just na for fire.
Osigwe clear say, for any judicial system to sabi wetin e dey do, everybody suppose comply with their decisions. E talk say, “Enforcement na the lifeblood of adjudication,” meaning if we no get am right, all of dem well-reasoned judgments go just be like expired rice.
Justice Gonçalves also add say e happy for the reception wey dem give am and the chance to hear directly from NBA leaders. Na him talk say, di Court dey engage member states to tackle wetin dey cause delay for enforcement of judgments. If we no fix dis ting, na so confidence for our judicial system go dey waka waka.
Dem both leaders talk say collaboration na key. Dem dey look for how judiciary, Bar, executive and civil society fit work together to solve this wahala. Gonçalves stress say dem need dialogue and political will to make sure say court judgments dey respected and carried out on time.
Omo Naija, dis meeting show say pipo for legal industry don dey worry about how court judgments dey fall flat. Osigwe remind Gonçalves say, NBA go participate fully for any program wey go improve our judicial institutions, accountability and make sure say we dey uphold di authority of our courts inside ECOWAS.
So, as dem talk finish, we fit sabi sey na only through continuous dialogue and teamwork we go fit make sure say our court decisions dey respected for West Africa. Gist no dey finish, but na here we go stop for now. Stay tuned, as we go dey follow up this matter!
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