A network of Nigerian public interest lawyers met last week, from June 26-29, in Warri, Nigeria, for a training and strategy session hosted by EarthRights International (ERI) and Environmental Rights Action (ERA). Many of the lawyers had originally joined a network organized by ERA, the Nigerian affiliate of Friends of the Earth, and are litigating pathbreaking human rights and environmental cases in partnership with ERA in Nigerian courts.
The session focused on remedies for human rights and environmental abuses in Nigerian law, international and regional institutions, and in foreign countries through transnational mechanisms. Prof. M.T. Okorodudu-Fubara, of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife-Ife, shared her expertise on Nigerian environmental law and the use of international law in Nigerian courts. Nurudeen Ogbara, of the Citizens Law Centre in Lagos, presented on regional and international mechanisms, such as the African Court of Justice and Human Rights and the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS). The gathering also heard from Chima Williams, ERA's Head of Legal Resources, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, ERA's Director of Programmes and Administration, and ERI staff Marco Simons and Jonathan Kaufman.
In cooperation with ERA, the participating lawyers have been working on cases involving environmental issues and human rights in Nigerian courts. Many of these cases seek remedies for communities affected by oil spills and gas flaring. In 2005, ERA and its partners won a significant victory in the Gbemre v. Shellcase when the federal High Court of Nigeria declared that gas flaring was illegal as a violation of the fundamental right to life. Despite the Gbemre ruling, however, gas flaring continues in Nigeria.
Participants also included representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Environment of Edo State, Nigeria. The government representatives discussed how the public interest lawyers could work with them to bring issues to their attention and collaborate on cases of mutual concern.
The June meeting is expected to be the first session of a continuing partnership between ERI and ERA to support public interest lawyers in Nigeria, and to share skills and strategies on human rights and environmental litigation.
