‘Nigeria must focus seriously on strengthening its institutions and creating accountable systems’

Adaobi Egboka, a Nigerian-US based human rights lawyer is the Director of Africa Initiative at the Vance Center for International Justice. In this interview with NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE, she discussed the state of human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria, and why strengthening institutions is critical to the country’s progress. She also spoke on other issues of national interest. Excerpts:

How would you describe the state of human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria today?

I would describe the state of human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria as deeply concerning, despite the substantial legal and constitutional framework we have for protecting human rights. A significant gap remains between the rights guaranteed by law and the reality many Nigerians experience. We continue to see abuses by security agencies, prolonged pre-trial detention, delays in the justice system, gender-based violence, restrictions on civic space, insecurity and limited access to justice, particularly for people who cannot afford legal representation. The rule of law is weakened when institutions fail to enforce the law consistently or hold powerful people accountable. When violations occur without effective investigation or remedy, or when court processes are so slow or inaccessible that people lose confidence in the system, the credibility of those institutions suffers.

So, while Nigeria has important constitutional, regional and international human rights protections, the real measure is whether those protections work in practice.

Today, a significant gap remains between the law as it exists, and the justice people experience. I believe we must prioritise strengthening institutions, so they are independent, capable, and accountable, and so the law protects people regardless of their wealth, position, or influence.

What human rights violation in Nigeria concerns you most, and what is your take on that?

What concerns me most is not a single violation but the culture of impunity and the lack of accountability when violations occur. Nigeria has serious human rights problems, including unlawful use of force, arbitrary detention, and other abuses. But what troubles me most is what happens after a violation occurs. Too often, people do not see credible investigations, effective remedies, or meaningful accountability. I also think we need to focus much more on prevention.

How would you compare the US and Nigerian legal systems, and where are the biggest gaps in protecting citizens’ rights in Nigeria?

Nigeria and the United States share some important similarities. Both are federal systems with written constitutions, common-law traditions and systems of judicial review.

But similar constitutional structures do not necessarily mean that institutions function in the same way. I also want to avoid presenting the United States as a perfect model. It is not. The US has serious human rights and rule-of-law challenges of its own, and some of those challenges have become particularly visible in recent years. No country has a perfect justice system.

One important difference is the institutional infrastructure available to enforce rights. The United States has developed a number of mechanisms through which people can challenge government action, obtain legal representation, and pursue systemic remedies. Those mechanisms do not always work as they should, but they provide avenues for accountability.

In Nigeria, the gaps are often more apparent in practice. Legal aid remains unable to meet the scale of need. People can spend excessive periods in pre-trial detention, cases can take years to resolve, and mechanisms for holding security agencies and other powerful actors accountable remain a significant concern.

How would you describe the Nigerian government’s response to international criticism on human rights cases?

The Nigerian government’s response has not been uniform, and there have certainly been instances of constructive engagement. But on some of the most sensitive human rights issues, particularly allegations involving security agencies, protests and civic space, the response has often been more defensive than substantive.

Too often, the focus shifts to challenging the criticism itself or the critic, rather than engaging with the underlying issue.

Nigeria has voluntarily accepted obligations under regional and international human rights frameworks. Taking those commitments seriously means engaging with scrutiny.

What legal reforms do you think Nigeria needs to align with international standards?

Nigeria needs to focus seriously on strengthening its institutions and on creating transparent, accountable systems at all levels.

We need stronger accountability across the justice and security sectors. That includes effective oversight of security agencies, credible investigation and prosecution of abuses, and systems that ensure no one is above the law.

Also, we need to strengthen the independence and integrity of our justice institutions. That means paying close attention to how judges and other key justice officials are selected and appointed, ensuring that those processes are transparent, merit-based and protected from undue political influence.

It also means ensuring that justice institutions have the resources and institutional independence necessary to perform their functions, and that court orders, particularly orders made against government, are respected and implemented.

How can Nigerian lawyers in the diaspora collaborate with lawyers in Nigeria to advance human rights and strengthen the rule of law?

There is already significant collaboration between Nigerian lawyers at home and in the diaspora, and I think that is a very positive development. Legal practice itself has become increasingly cross-border, particularly with the growth of international transactions, technology and professional networks since the pandemic.

There is also a growing interest among Nigerian lawyers in the diaspora in finding meaningful ways to contribute to work in Nigeria.

One practical opportunity is pro bono work. Lawyers in the diaspora can contribute specialised expertise, comparative experience, research capacity, and international networks, while lawyers working in Nigeria bring an understanding of the local legal, institutional, and social context that is indispensable.

What is Africa Initiative at the Vance Center for International Justice all about?

At its core, the Vance Center’s Africa work entails partnering with the legal profession to strengthen access to justice and the rule of law across the continent.

As Director of Africa Initiatives, I work with lawyers, bar associations, and civil society organisations across African countries to build partnerships and provide practical legal support for public-interest work. Much of that work involves connecting civil society organisations with lawyers and law firms that can provide pro bono assistance, such as legal research, strategic advice, or litigation support. Many organisations doing important work on human rights and other public-interest issues lack the resources or capacity to access the specialised legal support they need.

Our Vance Center attorneys also work directly on issues like civic space, gender justice, human rights, and strengthening the legal profession’s capacity to support public-interest work.

A major part of my work has also focused on building the infrastructure to make that support sustainable. For example, I lead the development of the Pro Bono Institute of Kenya, which connects civil society organisations that need legal assistance with lawyers willing to provide pro bono services.

We are also working to strengthen pro bono practice across Africa and to build greater collaboration among African lawyers. In Nigeria, last year, NBA -SPIDEL invited me to speak about opportunities for legal practitioners to take on pro bono work ahead of its annual conference.

This year, I was appointed Secretary of its National Legal Aid Strategy Implementation Monitoring Committee and a member of the Conference Planning Committee.

What has motivated your focus on human rights work in Nigeria and across the continent?

My commitment to human rights began with a very simple question: who gets justice when the system does not work for them?

Starting my career in Nigeria and working on access to justice, human rights, and law reform exposed me to the gap between the rights people have on paper and their ability to access and enforce those rights in practice. I learned that the law can be a powerful tool for change, but when institutions fail, it can also become a source of deep frustration for the people who depend on it.

That experience motivated me to focus on the systems and resources needed to make justice more accessible, particularly for people and organisations that would otherwise struggle to obtain quality legal representation and support.

Working across Africa and internationally has expanded that perspective. It has allowed me to work with lawyers, civil society organisations and institutions in different countries and to see common challenges and the different approaches to addressing them.