Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
President Aigbokhan, a respected human rights lawyer, public interest advocate, and Freedom of Information (FOI) campaigner, has been named Presiding Judge for the semi-final stage of the Wahab Egbewole, SAN National Disability Moot Court Competition, which will be held at the University of Ilorin.
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for advancing disability rights education, the competition provides law students with an opportunity to engage critically with legal issues affecting persons with disabilities while promoting advocacy and inclusive justice.
In his reaction, Aigbokhan thanked the organisers for the honour and confidence reposed in him, describing the competition as a commendable platform for fostering legal research, advocacy, and greater awareness of disability rights issues.
He emphasized that the protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities remain among the most pressing human rights issues of modern society, requiring sustained commitment and engagement from legal practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Over the years, Aigbokhan has built a distinguished reputation through strategic litigation, public interest advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives focused on transparency, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable groups.
His interventions before domestic and regional courts have contributed significantly to the advancement of human rights law and public interest jurisprudence in Nigeria and across West Africa.
The final stage of the competition will form part of the activities of the conference of the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers, which is expected to bring together leading academics, jurists, legal practitioners, and policymakers from across the continent.
Aigbokhan’s appointment is widely seen as a recognition of his enduring contributions to human rights advocacy, constitutionalism, access to justice, and public interest litigation.
Notably, he played a leading role in the landmark case of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria v. Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors (Suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/51/2020), in which the applicants challenged the Nigerian government over alleged discriminatory recruitment criteria employed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
