Nigerian Justice Minister Kanu Agabi on Tuesday called on African countries to unite to fight injustice imposed on the continent in Lagos.
Speaking at the opening of a one-day meeting of justice ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the capital Abuja, Agabi said no other part of the world has suffered injustice than Africa.
"We have suffered from slavery, colonialism, neocolonialism andnow globalization We should therefore unite to enable us confront our problems," said the minister, also chairman of the meeting.
In her address, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice Hansine Donli said globalization has aggravated cross-border activities so that it became imperative from member states to set up regional machinery of justice.
Stressing the need of independence of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, she said the assurance of justice for all is critical to the war against injustice and development in the sub-region.
The meeting, which was preceded by a meeting of legal experts on Monday at the same venue, set its focus on the proposed amendment to the protocol that established the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
At their fifth extraordinary session in Abuja in April, the ECOWAS justice ministers deliberated on the draft rules of procedure of the court and resolved to accelerate cooperation and integration in the sub-region.
(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2002)
