The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) will today, Wednesday, 27th August 2025, anchor a key breakout session at the ICC Main Auditorium, Enugu, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM (immediately after the UNICEF session).
Themed “Access to Justice, Security & Accountability: Issues, Challenges and Advancing Solutions,” the session will explore the intersection of justice reform, human rights, and institutional accountability in Nigeria.
Lead Speaker
Associate Professor Uju Agomoh
President of the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and Member of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, Agomoh is renowned for her expertise in human rights, criminal justice reform, and humane corrections across Africa.
Moderator
Hon. Justice Chimezie C. Nwakanma
Judge of the Abia State High Court, widely respected for his jurisprudential insight and commitment to justice sector strengthening.
Panelists
- Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN – Past Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL and leading advocate in public interest litigation.
- Deji Adeyanju, Esq. – Founding Partner, Deji Adeyanju & Partners; Chair, Center for Liberty; civic rights campaigner.
- Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar – Director General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, spearheading free legal aid and criminal justice reforms.
- Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, mni – Controller General, Nigerian Correctional Service, leading rehabilitation-focused correctional reforms.
- Peter Omenka – Senior Programme Officer, International IDEA, with expertise in governance and democracy reforms.
- Yvonne Darkwa-Poku, J.D. – McArthur Foundation (Virtual), advocate for donor-driven justice sector accountability initiatives.
- Yusuf Godiya Danmadami – ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, with regional human rights adjudication experience.
Session Coordinator
Okey Leo Ohagba
Secretary, NBA-SPIDEL and former NBA 1st Vice President, known for his strong voice in governance and rule of law reforms.
The NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) is a foremost arm of the Nigerian Bar Association dedicated to promoting justice and social change through public interest litigation, human rights advocacy, and development-driven law practice.
SPIDEL provides the institutional platform for lawyers to challenge abuses of power, demand accountability, and protect the rights of vulnerable groups in society.
“Law must serve the people, not just the powerful. That is the spirit of SPIDEL, and it is at the heart of today’s session.”
Why This Session Matters
For Nigeria, access to justice and accountability remain pressing concerns. Insecurity, weak justice delivery, and lack of institutional transparency continue to erode public trust. Today’s SPIDEL-led session promises to dissect these challenges and propose workable solutions, aligning with SPIDEL’s mandate of using the law as a tool for social justice and national development.
As the legal profession gathers at the NBA Annual General Conference, this session offers an opportunity for the bar to reaffirm its role as a vanguard for justice and accountability.
