On Monday, 20 April 2026, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) launched its Guide to Human Rights and Public Interest Litigation in Nigeria in Abuja.
The Guide, authored by PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, is designed as a practical resource for lawyers, civil society organisations and other actors seeking to use litigation to advance human rights, accountability and access to justice.
The launch brought together members of the judiciary, legislature, legal profession and civil society. Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court of Nigeria chaired the event and highlighted the judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights and expanding access to justice.
Also present were Dr. Mathew Ayibakuro, Governance Adviser at FCDO, Hon. Peter Makinde, Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Victor Obuzor, Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Development Partners, and several others. Both lawmakers emphasised the importance oflegal and institutional support for rights protection, accountability and collaboration with civil society.
Discussions focused on the role of public interest litigation in addressing systemic injustice, enforcing rights and strengthening democratic governance. Participants also stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the bar, bench and civil society.
The Guide outlines legal frameworks, strategies and procedural pathways for initiating and pursuing human rights cases. It is intended to help bridge the gap between legal rights and their enforcement, especially for vulnerable and marginalised groups.
The Guide can be accessed via this link:
https://placng.org/i/documents/guide-to-human-rights-and-public-interest-litigation-in-nigeria/