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ECOWAS Law and National Laws

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ECOWAS Law

Abstract

This chapter explores the concept of supranationality and how it interplays with national laws within an economic integration setting, using the European Union experience as a case study. It then situates supranationality, direct applicability and direct effect within the ECOWAS legal regime. Finally, the chapter posits that these principles do not apply within the Community because of constitutional strictures. It contends that if the Member States intend to make ECOWAS law supranational within their jurisdictions, they must take legislative and judicial steps to receive ECOWAS law as part of their body of laws.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Heifer and Slaughter (1997), p. 287.

  2. 2.

    Ibid.

  3. 3.

    Leal-Arcas (2007), p. 97.

  4. 4.

    Leal-Arcas (2007), p. 98.

  5. 5.

    Ibid.

  6. 6.

    Ibid., p. 109.

  7. 7.

    Ibid., 110.

  8. 8.

    Ibid., 111.

  9. 9.

    Asante (1991), p. 7.

  10. 10.

    European Coal and Steel Community Treaty 1951; European Atomic Energy Community Treaty 1957; and European Community Treaty 1957.

  11. 11.

    Heifer and Slaughter (1997), p. 277.

  12. 12.

    See old Art. 249 EC (Treaty on the Functioning of European Union (TFEU) and Treaty on European Union (TEU) are the current treaties).

  13. 13.

    Harris and Horspool (2008), see also Italy v Commission 1972, p. 116.

  14. 14.

    Azienda Agricola Monte Arcosu V Regione Autonoma della Sardegna 2001, p I-132.

  15. 15.

    Ibid., p. 98.

  16. 16.

    Supra.

  17. 17.

    Harris and Horspool (2008), p. 97.

  18. 18.

    Azienda Agncola supra.

  19. 19.

    Hauptzollamt Mainz v Kupferberg 1982, pp. 3665, 3666.

  20. 20.

    Grad v Finanzamt Traunstein 1970, p. 837.

  21. 21.

    1974, p. 1349.

  22. 22.

    Marshall v Southamptom & South.West Hampshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) 1986, p. 750.

  23. 23.

    Pubblico Minister v Ratti 1979, p. 1645.

  24. 24.

    Colson and Kamann v Land Nordrhein—Westfalen 1984.

  25. 25.

    Marleasing SA v La Commercial International de Alimentacion SA 1990, p I-4161.

  26. 26.

    Silvio Berlusconi and others 2005, Pi-3656.

  27. 27.

    Kolpinghuis 1987, p. 3986.

  28. 28.

    Brookes (2006), p. 1536.

  29. 29.

    1964, p. 593.

  30. 30.

    1990, PI-2474.

  31. 31.

    Internationale Handelsgesellschaft MbH v Einfuh-und Vorratsstelle Fur Getreide Und Futtermittel 1970, pp. 1133–1134.

  32. 32.

    Supra.

  33. 33.

    Heifer and Slaughter (1997), p. 276.

  34. 34.

    Brownlie (2003), p. 32.

  35. 35.

    European Communities Acts 1972, see also European Communities (Amendment) Acts.

  36. 36.

    Hartley (2007), pp. 256, 257.

  37. 37.

    Hartley (2007), p. 248.

  38. 38.

    Conseil d’Etat, this is the court that has jurisdiction to hear cases that arise from governmental administrative actions.

  39. 39.

    Semoules case 1970.

  40. 40.

    1989.

  41. 41.

    Article 188-1,-2 French Constitution 1958.

  42. 42.

    See also Article 23 of the Basic law, specifically providing for transfer of power to European Union.

  43. 43.

    1970, p. 1134.

  44. 44.

    1986.

  45. 45.

    Brookes (2006), p. 1536.

  46. 46.

    Heifer and Slaughter (1997), p. 287.

  47. 47.

    See ECOWAS, Review of the ECOWAS Treaty, para 57–58. 1992 cited in Falana (2010), p. 9.

  48. 48.

    2005, p. 51.

  49. 49.

    See Brownlie (2003), pp. 32–33.

  50. 50.

    ECOWAS, Review of the ECOWAS Treaty, para 57–58. 1992 cited in Falana (2010), p. 9.

  51. 51.

    International Conference of the Community Court of Justice held in Accra, Ghana, 16–18 October 2012.

  52. 52.

    Ugokwe v FRN Supra.

  53. 53.

    Ibid.

  54. 54.

    Pinheiro v Republic of Ghana 2012.

  55. 55.

    Harris and Horspool (2008), p. 71.

  56. 56.

    Revised Treaty of 1993.

  57. 57.

    Falana (2010), p. 11.

  58. 58.

    See Section 12 Nigerian Constitution 1999.

  59. 59.

    Vabre and Weigel 1975, p. 336, Nicolo’s case supra see generally Harris and Horspool (2008), p. 112.

  60. 60.

    Pinheiro v Republic Ghana 2012.

  61. 61.

    See, for instance, section 12 Constitution of Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 75(2) Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992.

  62. 62.

    New Patriotic Party v Inspector General of Police 1993, p. 82.

  63. 63.

    See sections 1–19 Human Right Act 1998.

  64. 64.

    Nwuche (2009), p. 12.

  65. 65.

    Articles 168–169.

  66. 66.

    See Articles 98 the Constitutions of Senegal 2001, Article 140 Constitution of Togo 2002 Article 147 Constitution of the Republic of Benin 1990.

  67. 67.

    Section 12 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999; Article 75 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992.

  68. 68.

    Article 75(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana; article 40(4)ii Constitution of Sierra Leone; section 57 Constitution of Liberia; section 79(1) c Constitution of Gambia 1997.

  69. 69.

    Article 11(2) Cape Verde Constitution 1992.

  70. 70.

    Ibid., (3).

  71. 71.

    Ibid.

  72. 72.

    Pinheiro v Ghana 2012.

  73. 73.

    Constitution of Nigeria 1999.

  74. 74.

    Ibid., (3); see also Attorney General of Bendel State v Attorney General of the Federation 1982, p. 1.

  75. 75.

    2000, p. 228.

  76. 76.

    For example, see Article 146 Constitution Republic of Benin 1990 and Article 97 Constitution of Senegal 2001.

  77. 77.

    Article 11(4) Constitution of Cape Verde 1992.

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  1. Maxlaw Consulting, London, UK

    Jerry Ukaigwe (Director, Former Lecturer)

  2. School of Law, Zenith University College, Accra, Ghana

    Jerry Ukaigwe (Director, Former Lecturer)

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Ukaigwe, J. (2016). ECOWAS Law and National Laws. In: ECOWAS Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26233-8_6

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