The ECOWAS Court of Justice holds External Court Sessions as part of its commitment to accessibility and regional outreach. These sessions, conducted outside of the Court’s seat in Abuja, Nigeria, allow the Court to operate directly within Member States, bringing justice close to the people in the grassroots of the Community. External sessions enable citizens, legal professional and public officials to observe the Court’s proceedings, thereby fostering greater understanding of its work and increasing public trust in the Court.

The external Court session is anchored on the provision of Article 26 (2) of the 1991 Protocol on the Court which provides that “where circumstances or facts of the case so demand, the Court may decide to sit in the territory of another Member State”.

During these sessions, the Court hears cases, delivers judgments, and provides education on its role in upholding human rights and resolving disputes across ECOWAS. By convening in different locations, the Court strengthens its visibility, encourages dialogue on human rights issues and promotes the rule of law throughout the ECOWAS region. External sessions are a vital part of the Court’s mission to be an accessible, responsive and impactful institution for all Community citizens.

The first External Court Session was held in March 2007 in Bamako, Mali. The Court has held subsequent External Court Sessions in the following territories of Member States:

1. – Niamey, Republic of Niger in April 2008
2. – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in April 2010
3. – Porto-Novo, Benin Republic in October 2011
4. – Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria in December 2012
5. – Lome, Togo in February 2014
6. – Guinea Bissau in March 2015
7. – Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in April 2016
8. – Bamako, Mali in April 2018
9. – Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in October 2021
10. – Accra, Ghana in March 2022