The ECOWAS Court of Justice has unveiled its Electronic Case Management System (ECMS), setting a target to become a fully digital court by 2030 in a move aimed at improving access to justice, efficiency and transparency across the region.
President of the court, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, announced the target on Monday in Abuja during the official launch of the ECMS, tagged “Go-Live.”
The event, themed “Promoting Digital Justice: Improving Access, Efficiency and Transparency through Electronic Case Management,” marks the court’s transition to technology-driven judicial administration.
Gonçalves said the court expected at least 80 per cent of legal practitioners to register on the platform within the next six months, with all new cases to be filed electronically through the ECMS.
“By 2030, we aim to establish a fully digital Court that is more efficient, accessible and recognised as a benchmark among regional judicial institutions,” he said.
He described the launch as the beginning of a new era in which technology would strengthen access to justice, enhance operational efficiency and promote transparency in the administration of regional justice.
According to him, the initiative reinforces the court’s commitment to innovation, institutional development and the delivery of quality judicial services to more than 400 million ECOWAS citizens.
Gonçalves explained that the ECMS is a secure, multilingual, web-based platform designed to digitise every stage of judicial proceedings, from electronic filing of cases to digital archiving.
The platform also supports case management, electronic notifications, secure communication and real-time monitoring of cases.
Available in English, French and Portuguese, the system is expected to reduce administrative delays, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in the court’s operations.
The court president, however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on the commitment of all stakeholders to adopt and continuously improve the platform.
He urged judges, court staff, lawyers, member states, litigants and development partners to embrace the new system to strengthen justice delivery across the ECOWAS region.
Earlier, the court’s Chief Registrar, Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, described the ECMS as a major milestone in the court’s digital transformation agenda.
He said the initiative goes beyond technological advancement, representing a commitment to strengthening public trust in institutions, empowering citizens and upholding the principles of justice and equity within 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,” he said.
“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 ensuring that justice is delivered swiftly, transparently and equitably.”
Also speaking, Acting Deputy Chief Registrar, Mrs Marie Saine, said the ECMS was developed under the court’s Justice 2030 Strategic Plan (2026–2030).
She said the plan prioritises greater efficiency in judicial processes, stronger protection of human rights and improved access to justice across the ECOWAS bloc.
“What we are launching today is more than a software system. It is a commitment by this Court to serve its community more effectively and to ensure that geography, language and distance are never barriers to justice,” she said.
Source: NAN
