ECOWAS Court Throws Out Torkornoo’s Application For Interim Measures

The ECOWAS court has dismissed former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s application for interim measures.

An application for interim measures is an urgent request submitted to a Court to obtain immediate protection in situations where there is an imminent danger of suffering irreparable harm.

Her application relating to her removal from office by President John Dramani Mahama was dismissed on November 19, 2025.

According to Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, the court, in its dismissal, stated that the application did not satisfy the criteria for the grant of interim measures.

A part of the ruling is quoted as saying, “The Applicant’s own conduct defeats her claim of imminent and irreparable harm. The Court is, therefore, satisfied that the applicant has not demonstrated the existence of an imminent or exceptional circumstance that will justify the urgency of the application filed almost 3 months after the act complained of.

“In the light of the Applicant’s failure to meet the requirement of urgency, the Court finds no basis to assess the remaining criteria for provisional measures, the same being cumulative. The request for promotion measures as outlined by the Applicant, which is not substantiated, is therefore dismissed.”

Torkornoo filed the suit on July 4, 2025, at a court based in Nigeria on the same allegations of human rights violations, which are currently pending before the Supreme Court and the High Court in respect of the ongoing removal processes.

The Chief Justice was suspended by President John Dramani Mahama in consultation with the Council of State after a prima facie case was established in three petitions submitted for her removal.

She was subsequently dismissed on September 1, 2025, in accordance with Article 149 (9) of the 1992 Constitution for stated misbehaviour.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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