Nii Ayikoi Otoo is a a former Attorney General and lead counsel for Justice Torkornoo
Legal counsel for former Chief Justice Torkornoo, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has stated that the ruling of the ECOWAS Court of Justice dismissing his client’s application for interim measures does not affect the substantive case.
According to him, although the court dismissed the application for interim measures, it directed the Attorney General’s office to file its processes within 30 days in response to a motion on human rights violations filed by Torkornoo.
ECOWAS court dismisses Torkornoo’s application for interim measures
Ayikoi Otoo, reacting to the development on JoyNews on November 19, 2025, refuted arguments that the ECOWAS Court lacks jurisdiction over the case, stating that it does, as long as the matter concerns human rights issues.
“[It does not affect it] at all, because when this case was filed, the first thing they told everybody was that the ECOWAS has no jurisdiction. Some of us kept telling them that it is not true. The ECOWAS Court operates whether or not a case is pending in your country. ECOWAS will rule here so long as it has to do with the violation of human rights,” he explained.
He criticised the state prosecution, describing them as ‘full of themselves’ for believing that the ECOWAS Court would strike out the entire case on grounds of jurisdiction.
“But they were too full of themselves, kept saying that the court would dismiss it because there are pending cases in the Supreme Court, High Court, and so on, which have not been dealt with. Now that ruling has gone against them, that they should file their process and let’s hear the matter, rather, they are talking about this, excuse my language, useless ruling,” he stated.
He added, “What is the point? What would that achieve? When they have gone ahead and done everything that they wanted to do on this end regarding the new appointment. Is this normal? At least it’s of no use. But what is newsworthy is that their preliminary objection has been dismissed, and they have been given 30 days to file their processes.”
Background
Former Chief Justice Torkornoo is seeking $10 million in compensation, arguing that her suspension and the petition process leading to her removal have violated her human rights and caused damage to her reputation as well as that of her family.
Why suspended CJ Torkornoo is seeking $10m compensation from government at ECOWAS Court
The demand for the compensation, which was her ninth relief, was captured as: “an award of USD 10 million as compensation for moral and reputational damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of her illegal suspension and unfair investigation.”
She contended that her suspension by President John Dramani Mahama “exposed her to public ridicule and odium, locally and internationally, and that the said act constitutes a violation of her human right to dignity guaranteed by Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
MAG/BAI
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