Nigeria's relationship with the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has been tense, highlighted by two recent rulings. The 2017 victory in the landmark case "Dorothy Njemanze & Ors v. Nigeria" saw the court find that Nigeria violated the women's rights to dignity, personal liberty, freedom of movement, and non-discrimination under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The 2025 case, "Lawyers Alert Initiative v. Nigeria," was dismissed because it lacked specific incidents and evidence of concrete harm. The contrasting outcomes underscore the importance of victim-centred litigation in achieving success at the court.
Nigeria and the ECOWAS Court: The Ongoing Battle Over Vagrancy Laws
Centre for Nigeria Progress 