The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has formally constituted its Public Interest Litigation Committee, inaugurating 25 members at a virtual ceremony held on Monday, December 22, 2025.

The event, attended by senior advocates, legal practitioners, and international partners, marked a significant step in the new SPIDEL leadership’s agenda under Chair Dr. Uju Agomoh.

“A Moral Instrument, Not Just a Procedural Tool”

Dr. Agomoh set the tone from the outset, framing public interest litigation as something bigger than courtroom procedure. In her address, she described it as “not merely a procedural tool; it is a moral instrument” — and made clear she expects the committee to act accordingly.

Her charge to the members was direct: “This Committee is not expected to be loud for the sake of noise, nor passive in the face of injustice. You are expected to be strategic, courageous, principled, and impactful.” She added that public interest litigation must be anchored in “sound legal reasoning, ethical clarity, and a deep understanding of social realities.”

Who Is on the Committee?

The 25-member committee was presented by NBA-SPIDEL Secretary Enome Amatey. It is chaired by Ntufam Mba E. Ukweni, SAN, with Dr. Lilian Ojima serving as Assistant Secretary.

Other members include Paul Daudu, SAN; Chinyere Igwegbe Moneme, SAN; Eni Faduwa-Oduwezai; Jennifer Nwodo; Daniel Asemekyi; Olajide Abiodun; Mohammed Danjuma; Mojirayo Ogunlana; Daniel Kip; Chikodidi Okeroji; George Ettodo; Godspower Iruka; and Charles Oko, among others.

A Word of Caution from the Immediate Past Chair

Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN — who led SPIDEL in the previous administration — delivered a goodwill message that was as much a warning as an encouragement. He called on the committee to resist the pull of politics, stating plainly: “Choose your fights, and those fights must be guided by public interest, not selfish interest.”

He also widened the scope of what the committee’s work should look like. “Public interest litigation is not only about filing cases in court,” he said. “It is public interest advocacy in the best interests of the country.”

The Committee’s Pledge

Alternate Chair Bulus Atsen, speaking on behalf of the committee, acknowledged the weight of the mandate and pledged to honour it. He referenced three pillars the Chair had outlined: “collaboration, integrity, and impact beyond symbolic litigation.”

International Partners on Board

Adaobi Egboka, representing the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice — a programme of the New York City Bar Association — expressed the Center’s commitment to working alongside NBA-SPIDEL. The Center’s involvement signals international recognition of SPIDEL’s role and the potential for cross-border collaboration on public interest issues.

Why This Matters

Nigeria’s legal landscape increasingly demands this kind of institutional muscle. Selective law enforcement, executive overreach, and limited access to justice have made public interest litigation less of a specialist niche and more of a national necessity. A well-constituted, focused committee with clear ethical guardrails is exactly the kind of structure needed to do that work credibly.

The test, as always, will be in the execution. But the inauguration of this committee, with its mix of senior advocates and emerging practitioners, and with international partners already engaged, is a meaningful start.