ECOWAS court rejects former Chief Justice Torkornoo’s bid to halt removal inquiry

The Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS has dismissed an application by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo seeking to temporarily stop the work of the fact-finding committee probing the petition for her removal.

Justice Torkornoo had asked the court for provisional measures to preserve her rights and prevent what she described as irreparable harm while her substantive case is being considered.

However, in its ruling delivered on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the court held that she filed the request too late—more than eight weeks after her suspension and over six weeks after the committee began its sittings.

The court said this delay undermined the requirement of urgency and the presence of exceptional circumstances needed to justify halting the proceedings.

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Court has directed the Attorney-General to file his response to Justice Torkornoo’s main application within 30 days.