Nigeria’s legal community was issued a sharp call to action on Monday as the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA–SPIDEL) inaugurated the newly constituted membership of its Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Committee, positioning the body as a frontline force against injustice, abuse of power, and systemic failure.
Speaking at the inauguration, Chair of NBA–SPIDEL, Uju Agomoh, PhD, described public interest litigation not as a technical exercise, but as a moral duty—one that must give voice to the voiceless and restore public confidence in the justice system.
“This Committee is not merely procedural,” Agomoh said. “Public Interest Litigation is a moral instrument. It is the shield of the vulnerable and the legal pathway through which society confronts injustice.”
Her address came at a time of growing public scepticism over the capacity of state institutions to protect citizens’ rights, a reality she said makes PIL more urgent than ever.
‘You Are Entrusted With Causes, Not Just Cases’
Agomoh charged committee members to see their mandate as far more than courtroom advocacy. She said they are now custodians of causes tied to environmental degradation, unlawful detentions, gender-based violence, economic exclusion, executive overreach, and constitutional violations.
“You are entrusted not just with briefs, but with burdens—the burdens of communities that may never stand before a court themselves,” she said.
Rejecting performative activism, Agomoh warned that the Committee must not become loud without purpose or passive in the face of injustice. Instead, she called for strategic, principled, and outcome-driven litigation rooted in sound legal reasoning and ethical clarity.
Three Non-Negotiables: Collaboration, Integrity, Impact
The SPIDEL chair outlined three core expectations for the committee’s work.
First, collaboration—with the Bar, civil society, academia, and affected communities. “No single institution can carry the weight of public justice alone,” she said.
Second, integrity, which she described as the foundation of legitimacy in public interest work. The Committee, she stressed, must remain above partisanship, personal ambition, and political pressure.
Third, impact. Agomoh urged the Committee to move beyond symbolic litigation toward cases that deliver measurable outcomes, including policy reforms, institutional accountability, improved governance, and restored public trust.
“We must be proactive, not reactive,” she said. “This Committee must identify emerging public interest issues and shape strategic litigation agendas that advance national development and democratic consolidation.”
Senior Advocates Sound Warnings Against Political Capture
The call for integrity was echoed by senior members of the Bar present at the event.
In a goodwill message, Paul Ananaba, SAN, former Chair of SPIDEL, cautioned the new leadership against allowing the platform to be hijacked by political interests.
“You must choose your fights,” Ananaba said. “Do not turn this into a vehicle for politicians. If you build integrity, you will save the NBA and the nation.”
He warned against pursuing headline-grabbing cases that drain resources without serving the public good, urging the Committee to focus squarely on development and accountability.
Similarly, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, emphasised that integrity must remain the watchword, cautioning against litigation driven by selfish or hidden interests.
Commitment, Partnerships, and a Global Outlook
Bulus Atsen, Alternate Chair of the Public Interest Litigation Committee, pledged that the new team would uphold the principles of collaboration, integrity, and impact in carrying out its mandate.
Renowned human rights lawyer Prof. Chidi Odinkalu advised SPIDEL to strengthen, not strain, its relationship with the NBA.
“The NBA is your biggest partner, not your competitor,” Odinkalu said. “Be intentional in what you do. That is what will make you effective.”
International support was also affirmed. Adaobi Ebuka, representing the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice in New York, said the Centre was ready to partner with SPIDEL and provide legal support where needed.
‘Select Matters That Move the Nation Forward’
Closing the event, Paul Daudu, SAN, Vice Chair of NBA–SPIDEL, urged the committee to pursue cases that add tangible value to national development.
As Nigeria grapples with rising governance challenges and shrinking civic trust, the inauguration of the NBA–SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation Committee signals a renewed determination within the legal profession to reclaim the law as an instrument of accountability—and a defender of the public good.
Below is the list of members of the newly reconstituted NBA SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation Committee:
1. Ntufam Mba E. Ukweni, SAN (Chair)
2. Paul Daudu, SAN
3. Chinyere Moneme, SAN
4. Bulus Yohanna Atsen, fsi (Alternate Chair)
5. Vincent Adodo (Secretary)
6. Dr Lilian Ojimma (Assistant Secretary)
7. Jennifer Nwado
8. Daniel Asomeji
9. Olajide Abiodun
10. Mohammed Danjuma
11. Mojirayo Ogunlana
12. Daniel Kip
13. Chikordi Okeorji
14. George ltodo
15. Godspower Eroga
16. Charles Okon
17. James lbor
18. Chuks Odelugo
19. Joy Obianuju Nnani
20. Gozie Reginald lwuala
21. Abdullahi Karaye
22. Ibrahim Baba Saliu
23. Saleh, Mohammed Tirmizi
24. Abba Shuarbu
25. Chinedu Agu
Advisors:
• Samuel J. Okutepa SAN
• Prof Chidi Odinkalu
