By Mark Longyen
The ECOWAS Court of Justice says it aims to go fully digital by 2030 and become more accessible, efficient and be recognised as a benchmark among judicial institutions in the sub-region.
President of the court, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, made this known at the formal unveiling of court’s Electronic Case Management System (ECMS), an initiative tagged, “Go-Live,” on Monday, in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, themed: ‘Promoting Digital Justice: Improving Access, Efficiency and Transparency through Electronic Case Management,’ aims at ensuring realtime regional technology-driven judicial administration.
“Looking ahead, we hope that, over the next six months, at least 80 per cent of legal professionals will be registered on the platform and that all new cases will be filed via the ECMS.
“By 2030, we aim to establish a fully digital Court that is more efficient, accessible and recognised as a benchmark amongst regional judicial institutions,” he said.
Gonçalves described the initiative as the beginning of a new era in which technology strengthens access to justice, enhances efficiency and promotes transparency in regional justice administration.
He also said it reaffirmed the court’s commitment to innovation, institutional strengthening and the provision of an excellent judicial service to about 400 million community citizens.
According to him, the unveiling of ECMS represents a transformative step toward a more modern, efficient, transparent and accessible justice system.
“The ECMS is a secure, multilingual, web-based electronic platform that will enable the digital management of all stages of judicial proceedings.
“This is from the electronic filing of claims to digital archiving, including case management, electronic notifications, secure communication and real-time monitoring of cases,” he said.
He said that, being available in English, French and Portuguese, the system would significantly reduce administrative delays, eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic procedures and enhance transparency, institutional accountability and efficiency of the court’s services.
The court’s president, however, noted that the true success of the system would depend on everyone’s commitment to using it and ensuring its continuous improvement.
He, therefore, called on judges, staff, lawyers, member states, litigants and partners to fully embrace this new platform and contribute to strengthening justice in the ECOWAS sub-region.
Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, the court’s Chief Registrar, in an address of welcome, described the ECMS as a milestone and a transformational leap that was more than just a technological advancement.
He explained that the initiative was all about digital transformation, deepening trust in institutions, empowering citizens, and upholding justice and equity principles, which lie at the heart of ECOWAS.
“Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era, one defined by innovation, efficiency, and accessibility in the administration of justice across our region.
“The Community Court of Justice has long been a beacon of fairness, integrity, and accountability.
“With the introduction of this electronic system, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done, swiftly, transparently, and equitably,” he said.
Speaking earlier, while overviewing the ECMS project, Mrs Marie Saine, the court’s Acting Deputy Chief Registrar, said the ECMS was a product of the Court’s own Strategic Plan 2026–2030, entitled “Justice 2030”.
According to her, the plan sets out three defining priorities, including greater efficiency in judicial processes, stronger protection of human rights and improved access to justice for all across the bloc.
“What we are launching today is more than a software system. It is a commitment, a commitment by this Court to do its work better, to serve its community more effectively, and to ensure that geography, language, and distance are never barriers to justice,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)