The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN has assured the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) that she would attend its forthcoming 2026 Annual Conference alongside many members of her Executive Committee.

She also assured the delegation led by NBA-SPIDEL Chair, Prof. Uju Agomoh of her readiness to invite key stakeholders to the conference.

Welcoming SPIDEL delegates who paid her a working visit, Badejo-Okusanya congratulated Agomoh for her ability to work seamlessly with many senior lawyers including Senior Advocates who are SPIDEL members, describing it as an indication of her hard work and acceptance by the members.

Speaking on the conference theme which focuses on public interest, the President recalled a forum where the issue of people with disability who were discriminated against by banks was raised. She disclosed that NBA has a Disability Policy which has been approved by NEC, adding that her administration would promote national conversations on a Disability Charter to foster initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of physically challenged persons among others.

The President also referenced the recent incident in Niger State where 37 persons died in NSCDC custody for alleged illegal mining. She charged SPIDEL to go beyond the public outrage and ensure that a sustainable solution emerges from the unfortunate incident. She however decried the operations of illegal miners as well as the treatment of displaced members of the society.

The NBA President also stressed the need to strengthen oversight of all detention facilities in the country, even as she decried the treatment meted to some suspects in detention centres especially when they are from disadvantaged segments of the society.

On child rights, she stated that “rather than cosmetic talks, the rights of children in conflict with the law must be protected.”

The NBA President informed the SPIDEL delegation of NBA’s initiative with the Nigeria Police Force aimed at ensuring that lawyers are treated professionally by the Police in the cause of discharging their duties.

According to her, if SPIDEL succeeds in addressing the myriad of issues as highlighted, NBA would invariably have succeeded in the discharge of its obligations to the society.

Speaking on behalf of the section, Agomoh congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her assumption of office as the first elected female President of the association.

She commended the welfare packages and other programmes lined up for members of the association, adding that there is a need for the NBA leadership to work as a team to deliver as “One NBA” by building synergies and effective coordination. She assured the NBA President of SPIDEL’s readiness to partner with her to deliver on her blueprint for the Bar and the larger society.

Agomoh requested the NBA President’s support towards the section’s forthcoming Annual Conference in Umuahia, adding that her presence and that of her Executive Committee members would go a long way to ensure success of the conference.

She stated that the Annual Conference is an opportunity to address crucial issues that touch on rule of law and the public interest, adding that this is reflected in the conference theme, “In the Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development.”

Agomoh was accompanied on the visit by many ranking SPIDEL members including NBA SPIDEL Vice Chairman, Mr. Paul Daudu, SAN; Messrs Andrew Odum, SAN; Dorn Cklaimz Enameh; Bulus Atsen; Folarin Aluko; Emmanuel Tayo Ogunjide; Vincent Adodo; Monday Adjeh and Dr. Lilian Ojimma, Secretary of the Conference Planning Committee.

The meeting which held at the NBA HOUSE in Abuja was also used to inform the NBA President and the Executive Committee that the Annual Conference will hold in Umuahia, Abia State, from 9th to 13th November, 2026.

Badejo-Okusanya invited the SPIDEL delegation to join her to meet with a visiting UNICEF team at a session that took place immediately after the SPIDEL visit.

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