Leading human rights activists are set to engage in fierce debate as the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Annual Conference starts in a few weeks.
Aside from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who is expected to deliver an address, no fewer than four past and present NBA presidents have also confirmed attendance at the eagerly awaited conference.
Among the speakers who have confirmed their attendance are foremost human rights activists, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, and Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN.
Aside from Agbakoba and incumbent NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN, other past presidents billed to attend the conference are Mr. Austin Alegeh SAN and Mr. Olumide Akpata.
Other speakers include Justice Amina Augie of the Supreme Court, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN, retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo, Prof. Pat Utomi, Chief Festus Okoye (INEC), Mr. Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN (AGC-TCCP) and Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe (NBA-ICLE).
Also confirmed as speakers are Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN, Mrs. Boma Ozobia-Alabi SAN, Dr. Sam Amadi, Mr. Worgu Boms (former Rivers State Attorney-General), Chief Tony Ojukwu SAN (NHRC), AIG Olufimihan Adeoye, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri and Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins (former NBA First Vice President).
Equally expected at the conference are Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Abia State counterpart, Mr. Alex Otti; Justice Kazeem Alogba of the Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Kate Abiri (former Chief Judge of Bayelsa State), Justice Daketima Kio of Rivers State High Court, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba (Solicitor General of the Federation & Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice), and Dr. Kole Shettima (Director of African Operations, MacArthur Foundation) aside from addresses by NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Dr. Monday Ubani and Conference Planning Committee Chairman, Mr. Okey Ohagba.
Aside from the Keynote Session, other sub-themes to be dissected at the conference are the Role of the Judiciary in the promotion of accountable and transparent resolution of election disputes; Public interest protection and the place of ethical values in the temple of justice; The 2023 Nigerian elections and lessons from the field: will the judiciary save the day?; Regaining the Trust in the Nigerian Judiciary Through the 2023 Election Cases – What Needs to Be Done? and Roundtable Discussion on Administration of Justice; Effective Implementation of Section 12(4-12) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019.
