The Nigerian Bar Association Chairman on Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA–SPIDEL), Prof. Uju Agomoh, has formally inaugurated the newly constituted membership of the NBA–SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Committee, charging members to serve with courage, integrity, and a clear focus on impactful justice delivery.
The inauguration took place on Monday, December 22, 2025, during a virtual ceremony held at 8:00 p.m., and was attended by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, distinguished legal practitioners, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association.
In her special address, Prof. 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.”
Prof. 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, Prof. 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.
Prof. 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.
Delivering a goodwill message during the inauguration, a former Chair of SPIDEL, Paul Ananaba, SAN, called for caution, urging the newly inaugurated members against allowing the platform to be overtaken by political interests.
“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,” he stated.
In the same vein, Chief J. S. Okutepa, SAN, appointed as an advisor stressed that integrity must remain the Committee’s guiding principle, cautioning against litigation motivated by selfish or concealed interests rather than genuine public concern. “Do public interest Litigation that is Publicly induced”.
Also contributing, renowned human rights lawyer Prof. Chidi Odinkalu urged SPIDEL to nurture and strengthen its relationship with the Nigerian Bar Association, rather than place strain on it. “Eliminate the idea that we are here to compete, be intentional and propositional in what you do,” he asserted.
Find below the full 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
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