Foremost human rights activist and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu has admonished the newly inaugurated Public Interest Litigation Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) to align its activities with those of the lawyers’ association.
Speaking at the inauguration of the committee by NBA-SPIDEL Chair, Prof. Uju Agomoh, Odinkalu, who wrote the Concept Paper that led to the establishment of NBA-SPIDEL by the Olisa Agbakoba NBA Administration, warned that the section must not have agenda that is outside the NBA blueprint.
He noted that SPIDEL was established to act as a hand-maiden to enable NBA achieve its over-arching goal of promoting the rule of law, warning that while the committee’s success may be measured by the quality of its enemies, “one enemy you must not make is NBA leadership.”
Speaking in the same vein, Chairman of the defunct SPIDEL Transition Committee, Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN, also urged the committee to desist from pursuing personal interests, saying: “You must choose your battles wisely; don’t fight selfish litigation. Do not convert this platform into a vehicle for politicians. If you build integrity, you will save both the NBA and the nation.”
On his part, fiery litigator, Mr. Jibrin Okutepa SAN urged the committee to eschew “selfish” agenda, adding that it must be guided by rules.
Odinkalu and Okutepa have been appointed as Advisors to the committee.
Speaking earlier, Agomoh charged the committee members led by respected Bar Leader, Mr. Ntufam Mba Ukweni SAN, to serve with courage, integrity, and a clear focus on impactful justice delivery.
Agomoh described Public Interest Litigation as more than a procedural legal mechanism, calling it “a moral instrument” and “the voice of the voiceless and the shield of the vulnerable.” She emphasized that the committee occupies a strategic position within SPIDEL and the broader vision of the NBA, particularly at a time when public confidence in institutions is increasingly being tested.
According to her, Public Interest Litigation remains one of the most powerful means through which the law confronts injustice, abuse of power, and systemic failures, allowing the law to move beyond technicality and become “a living promise of justice.”
Agomoh noted that members of the newly inaugurated Committee have been entrusted not just with legal briefs, but with causes that affect communities and vulnerable groups across the country. She identified key areas of concern to include environmental degradation, unlawful detentions, gender-based violence, economic exclusion, abuse of executive power, and violations of constitutional rights.
She cautioned that the Committee is neither expected to pursue publicity for its own sake nor remain passive in the face of injustice, stressing that public interest litigation must be strategic, principled, and grounded in sound legal reasoning and ethical clarity.
Outlining her expectations, the SPIDEL Chair highlighted three core pillars for the Committee’s work: collaboration, integrity, and impact. She stressed the importance of partnerships with civil society, academia, and other stakeholders, noting that public justice cannot be advanced by any single institution alone.
She further emphasized that the credibility of public interest litigation depends on the independence and ethical conduct of those who prosecute it, urging Committee members to remain above partisanship, personal gain, and external pressure.
On impact, Agomoh urged the Committee to move beyond symbolic litigation to outcome-driven advocacy, explaining that success should be measured not only by court victories but also by policy reforms, improved governance, institutional accountability, and restored public trust in the justice system.
The inauguration, she said, reaffirms SPIDEL’s commitment to deploying the law as a tool for national development, democratic consolidation, and social justice. She expressed the vision of a proactive PIL Committee that identifies emerging public interest issues, develops strategic litigation agendas, and contributes to legal thought leadership in Nigeria.
Agomoh assured the newly inaugurated members of the full support of the SPIDEL leadership as they undertake their mandate, urging them to serve with humility, courage, and excellence.
Below is the full list of members of the newly reconstituted NBA SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation Committee:
- Ntufam Mba E. Ukweni, SAN (Chair)
- Paul Daudu, SAN
- Chinyere Moneme, SAN
- Bulus Yohanna Atsen, fsi (Alternate Chair)
- Vincent Adodo (Secretary)
- Dr Lilian Ojimma (Assistant Secretary)
- Jennifer Nwado
- Daniel Asomeji
- Olajide Abiodun
- Mohammed Danjuma
- Mojirayo Ogunlana
- Daniel Kip
- Chikordi Okeorji
- George ltodo
- Godspower Eroga
- Charles Okon
- James lbor
- Chuks Odelugo
- Joy Obianuju Nnani
- Gozie Reginald lwuala
- Abdullahi Karaye
- Ibrahim Baba Saliu
- Saleh, Mohammed Tirmizi
- Abba Shuarbu
- Chinedu Agu
Advisors:
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