OAL involves in Advocacy Reforms of Criminal Justice in Nigeria

The Nigerian Criminal Justice System has been criticized widely as ineffective, unjust and repressive. As a result, OAL in association with its partner, Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) has been involved in advocacy reforms of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.

OAL/HURILAWS employed different strategies some of which include litigation, lobby and advocacy. OAL/HURILAWS carried out prison decongestion programmes across different parts of Nigeria. OAL/HURILAWS facilitated roundtables for stakeholders in the Justice sector on behalf of a multi-donor group (World Bank, USAID, DfID, Government of Japan, European Union). OAL led an initiative with the Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] and the Multi-Sector Law Group (MSLG) to produce a National Action Plan for Justice Sector Reform in Nigeria.

OAL was appointed by the Attorney General of the Federation as a member of the National Working Group on the Reform of Criminal Justice Administration. The working group was charged…“to develop a first draft of an administration of criminal justice Bill aimed at reducing delays in criminal trials and generally modernizing the criminal justice system in the country”. The Working Group did exactly that and the result was the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Bill which harmonized the various criminal laws in Nigeria. The Bill was a milestone in that it removed clogs in the administration of criminal justice process in Nigeria since the colonial period.

OAL/HURILAWS is working to ensure passage of the ACJ Law in Enugu, Edo, Cross Rivers, Benue and Plateau states. OAL/HURILAWS partnered with other organizations to ensure passage of a Federal Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Thus far, in addition to Enugu, Edo, Cross Rivers, Benue and Plateau, over 20 states passed the ACJ Laws. OAL/HURILAWS is now focused on ensuring effective implementation of the ACJ Laws.

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Dr. Olisa Agbakoba

Dr. Agbakoba is the Senior Partner and Head of the Arbitration & ADR practice group in Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL). He’s one of Nigeria’s leading experts in arbitration and has presided over several complex cases. He is the brain behind the first law firm-annexed arbitration/mediation center in Lagos (Nigeria), the OAL Arbitration and Mediation Centre. He has showcased his brilliance as counsel and as arbitrator in major national and cross-border disputes relating to aviation (airport terminal concessions); vessel charters; maritime collisions; oil wells and rigs; telecoms; and housing development and construction.

Yvonne Ezekiel

Yvonne is the Managing Partner of OAL, setting the strategic goals and objectives of the firm, managing the operations and driving business growth. She is leading the International Trade Practice group focusing on Trade control matters – sanctions, export controls, trade litigations and helping our clients understand how government enforces, regulates and addresses compliance matters, also advising on the nexus between politics and commerce and the dynamism companies need to consider.

Babatunde Ogungbamila

Babatunde Ogungbamila is a Partner in Olisa Agbakoba Legal and heads the firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice. He is also responsible for the firm’s Labour and employment, banking, Natural Resources and Finance Practice Brief. He is an astute litigator who has honed his skills of persuasive speaking from his frequent interfacing at all the levels of courts in Nigeria. Babatunde is an expert in general litigation and other alternative dispute resolution with specialization in commercial litigation, business recovery and insolvency, banking, Oil and Gas practices, taxation, labour and employment matters.

Beverley Agbakoba-Onyejianya

Beverley is a Partner and the Head of Sports, Entertainment & Technology (SET) group at OAL. She is a regulatory and compliance professional and a lawyer with over twelve years professional experience in the banking and capital markets sectors in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Her broad experience in the regulatory and compliance industry covers investment banking, brokerage and fund management sectors and has seen her hold various leadership roles in regulatory and compliance sector.

Ify Anazonwu-Akerele

Ifeyinwa Akerele as a Synergy Partner at OAL is an experienced administrator in the public and private sector. She has excellent skills in the management of people. She was the founding / pioneer Director General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping ( NCS). She is a Life Member Of the Governing Council and a member of the Board of Trustees ( BOT) and presently the Chairman of the Executive Management Committee of the NCS.

Osita Franklin Okoro

Osita is an Associate Partner at OAL. He possesses 20 years cognate experience in legal practice, management, public policy, compliance, project management, regulation, institutional and legal reforms, governance, public sector engagement, business development and organizational development.

Collins Okeke

Collins Okeke is an Associate Partner/Head of Public Sector Practice Group, an aspect of law that examines the role of laws, institutions and legal systems in both domestic and international jurisdictions. He is grounded in legal, regulatory and public policy advisory services. He has served in advisory capacities for both Federal and State Governments, initiated institutional and regulatory reforms as well as led public interest litigation programmes contributing positively to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political environment.

Lilian Uwandi Agbakoba

Lilian is a Synergy Partner with over 4 decades experience as a Corporate Solicitor specializing in Commercial Practice, Business Development, Business Management, Real Estate Letting and Sales, Real Estate Advisory Consultancy, Property Development and Property Facility Management.

Francis Gozie Moneke

Francis is a Synergy Partner at OAL who has successfully prosecuted numerous public interest and human rights as well as diverse civil cases in various superior courts of record in Nigeria. To his credit are over 100 articles published in newspapers and journals diverse legal and public policy issues. He has trained more than 3,000 police officers in Nigeria on human rights, rule of law and conflict management.

Lady Debbie N. Obodoukwu

Lady Debie works as a Synergy Partner at OAL. She has appeared in many cases before State and Federal High Courts, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and Election Tribunals. She’s very proficient in Company law, Litigation, commercial law and recovery of loans and debts, enforcement of fundamental rights, law, mergers and acquisition, conciliation and arbitration and trademarks training.

Chinedu Nneke

Chinedu is a Associate Partner and Core Litigation Lawyer with ardent interest in Public Interest Advocacy, Constitutional and Human Rights Affairs. He has successfully litigated on several landmark human rights and public interest cases. He is passionate about providing legal protection for the voiceless in the society; he exhibited his prowls in the recent educational discrimination case. He also has a knack for legal and legislative drafting.

Frank Ihedoro

Frank is a Senior Associate and a Litigation lawyer with keen interest in Human Rights Advocacy and Public interest Litigation. His advocacy practice includes judicial reforms and review, insolvency disputes and real estate litigation. He provides pragmatic advice to clients in a wide range of areas particularly those in the financial services sector.