The Socio -Economic Rights and Accountability Project(SERAP) with support from Ford Foundation on Thursday 7th November,2024 in PortHarcourt,Rivers State organized an interactive session on strengthening of stakeholders’ capacity to enforce court judgements in Nigeria with major focus on court Judgements on Environmental rights in Niger Delta region.
Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP in his opening remarks stated that SERAP is a non-profit, nonpartisan, legal and advocacy organization devoted to promoting transparency, accountability and respect for socio-economic rights in Nigeria.
He welcomed all participants on behalf of management and board of SERAP.
MR Oluwadare disclosed that the essence of the event is to brainstorm on how judgements of the court will be enforced.
“We are here to exchange ideas and profer solutions. It is time for us to think creatively and plan.
Director of Legal Service and Enforcement of National Human Rights Commission(NHRC),who represented the Chairman,Tony Ojukwu said NHRC was established to support human rights of citizens. She thanked SERAP for their unwavering committment in fighting for socio-economic rights of citizens.
“Niger Delta has faced environment degradation by activities of oil company.We must come together to ensure court judgement that promotes justice in the region is enforced and obeyed.
“As a Government agency saddled with responsibllity of promoting and protecting human rights,we must work out modalities to ensure court decison and judgements are obeyed.The court judgement affects everything” she said.
Representative of Attorney General and Minister of Justice,Adaeze Amanda,who is an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Ministry said “today we are gathered to discuss issue of enforcing court judgements .The Niger Delta region is blessed but faced with issues of environmental degradation.Federal Government is committed to upholding court judgements.
“We must all collaborate .We urge everyone to advocate for enforcement of court judgements.let us champion evironmental justice”.
Dr Chukwuma Chinwo,a constitutional lawyer who delivered lecture on the topic
“Public Interest Litigation And Enforcement of Judgements In Environmehtal Matters in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria” stated that in a society where power overrides the people, you can have judgement,nobody talks to you.
“When you pursue public interest litigaton, judgement is given,enforcement depends on the Government you have.If the government values power more than rights there is nothing you can do to enforce the judgement.
“For instance our Assembly members are more obedient to their Oga than the law”.
Dr.Chinwo listed some factors that affects Judgement execution in Nigeria to include
1.When the Government is not obedient to the law.
2.If there is specific designation that it should not be enforced immediately.
3.Order of Stay of Execution.
4.Lack of resources to meet the judgement debt by the judgement debtor.
Dr Chinwo added that there is no doubt that much has to be done to ameliorate the suffering of the people of the Niger Delta region against industrial activities, especially in the oil sector which are destroying the flora and fauna and reducing the worth of the people’s lives.
Highlight of the programme was inauguration of SERAP network volunteer lawyers in Edo,Bayelsa,Rivers,Delta and Ondo states.
Kehinde Oyewumi,Legal Adviser of SERAP said the duties of SERAP volunteers network of lawyers is to pursue public interest litigation,advance accountability, environmental justice, tackle corruption and undertake action onbehalf of SERAP in court amongst others.
Our correspondent reports that members of Nigeria Bar Association PortHarcourt branch,Civil Societies,students,traditional rulers,media were all in attendance.
