The Peoples Tribunal on Human Rights Violations and Environmental Justice – Port Harcourt Day 1 Proceedings 17th November 2025
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by
Peter Mazzi
The opening day of the People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Environmental Injustice, held in Port Harcourt on 17th – 19th November 2025, marked a significant civic intervention in the ongoing struggle against rights violations and environmental degradation across Nigeria. Against a national backdrop of persistent abuses—ranging from arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions to police and military brutality, citizens continue to grapple with limited access to justice and weak institutional responses. In the oil-producing regions of the Niger Delta, communities experience layered injustices: environmental pollution, loss of livelihoods, corporate irresponsibility, and decades of unremedied ecological harm. These violations persist despite the presence of statutory mechanisms and the judiciary, whose effectiveness is often undermined by institutional inertia, socioeconomic barriers, and inadequate enforcement.
In response to these widening gaps in accountability, Social Action, through its Human Rights and Democracy Programme in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission with support from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLF), convened this People’s Tribunal as an alternative, people-centered platform for justice. Although symbolic in nature, the Tribunal is structured with procedural rigour, providing an avenue for victims, communities, civil society actors, and experts to speak truth to power. With participation from bodies including the NHRC, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, security agencies, academics, and activists, the Tribunal seeks to bridge the divide between institutions and the people they serve.
Through public hearings, victim testimonies, expert submissions, and community-led storytelling, the Tribunal aims to build a comprehensive record of human rights and environmental abuses in the Niger Delta. The findings and recommendations generated through this process will feed directly into institutional follow-up, legal advocacy, and policy reform efforts—thereby strengthening public accountability and restoring citizens’ confidence in justice mechanisms..
Diverse Stakeholders in Attendance
The gathering drew participation from notable institutions, including:
- Public Complaints Commission (PCC)
- National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Rivers State Branch
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Human Rights Committee
- Representatives of the Civil Society (Niger Delta)
- International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA)
Also present were human rights defenders, media practitioners, community representatives, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and victims of various forms of abuses seeking justice.
Opening Session and Context Setting
The tribunal commenced with a welcome address by Barr. Arochukwu Ogbonna, who underscored the civic purpose of the Tribunal: providing a bridge between voiceless victims and relevant institutions capable of delivering justice. He reflected on the growing urgency to address worsening human rights violations, particularly in resource-dependent communities of the Niger Delta.
Speaking on behalf of Social Action’s Executive Director, Dr. Isaac Osuoka, Programme Coordinator Isaac Botti emphasized that the tribunal was convened against the backdrop of persistent police brutality, gender-based violence, economic exclusion, trafficking in persons, and environmental degradation rooted in weak institutional accountability. He noted that despite existing legal mechanisms, many victims remain locked out of justice due to poverty, institutional inertia, and bureaucratic red tape.
He assured that the Tribunal’s findings would be compiled into a comprehensive report and formally submitted to relevant authorities including the NHRC. He further highlighted that the outcomes would support ongoing litigation efforts with partners such as the NBA and FIDA.
Chairman of the Tribunal Panel and Vice Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Barr. Emmanuel John, explained that the NBA’s involvement aligns with its mandate to uphold the rule of law and deepen access to justice. He described the Tribunal as a fact-finding, semi-judicial body whose recommendations would guide victims on next steps, including litigation, mediation, and institutional engagement.
Presentation of Petitions
A total of six petitions were presented before the Tribunal on the first day, exposing a range of human rights violations affecting individuals and communities. These included:
1. Sexual Violence Against a Minor
Petitioner: Dimkpa Barnabas
Barnabas appeared on behalf of a six-year-old girl allegedly defiled by a 48-year-old man. He appealed for institutional intervention as the child’s physically incapacitated parents lack the resources to pursue justice.
2. Domestic Violence and Marital Abandonment
Petitioner: Barine Pretty Lakia
A survivor of long-term domestic abuse, Barine sought the Tribunal’s support in compelling her husband, who abandoned her after 12 years of marriage, to formally dissolve the union and compensate her for the emotional and psychological trauma endured.
3. Gender-Based Violence and Fear of Reprisal
Petitioner: Damiete Omieba (represented by CRC Diobu)
Her petition detailed repeated physical and psychological violence at the hands of her husband. Present at the venue, Damiete was too afraid to testify openly due to fear of retaliation from her husband who already showed signs of violence towards her.
4. Child Neglect and Family Abandonment
Petitioner: Anna Lesom
A mother of two, Anna recounted how her husband, who works for the Nigeria Immigration Services, abandoned the family for 12 years, leaving her solely responsible for their welfare. One of her children had been sent home for unpaid school fees, and the family frequently struggles to feed.
5. Unlawful Withholding of Earnings
Petitioner: Owolo Santos Owolo
Santos accused the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area of withholding his salary for nearly three and a half years without notice, despite having been duly employed and officially issued an appointment letter. As a result of the circumstances that the denial of his salary has placed him, his wife has left his home with their only child.
6. Environmental Degradation and Corporate Negligence
Petitioner: Damian Gbogbara (representing farmers and fishermen of Bodo City, Gokana LGA)
Gbogbara called on the Tribunal to compel Shell, now operating as Renaissance, to decommission obsolete oil infrastructure in the community. He stressed that ongoing oil extraction without cleaning up environmental damage constitutes a serious violation of the community’s economic and ecological rights.
Tribunal Deliberations and Advisory
Following the presentations, the Tribunal panel provided advisory remarks to each petitioner, outlining immediate steps for institutional engagement. Petitioners were directed to liaise with relevant agencies—such as NHRC, FIDA, NAPTIP, and the NBA—to begin formal processes for legal redress.
The Tribunal also assured participants that cases supported with adequate evidence would be escalated to responsible authorities and pursued through appropriate legal and administrative mechanisms.
Purpose and Strategic Importance of the Tribunal
The People’s Tribunal, although symbolic in its authority, serves as an innovative civic mechanism for:
- Documenting systemic abuses
- Amplifying voices of marginalized individuals
- Strengthening collaboration between communities and justice institutions
- Influencing reforms in policing, human rights protection, and environmental governance
It aligns with Social Action’s long-standing advocacy for strengthened democracy, environmental justice, and community rights in the Niger Delta.
Next Steps and Expected Outcomes
Social Action will consolidate testimonies, evidence, and jurors’ recommendations into a comprehensive Tribunal Report, which will be disseminated to:
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- Ministry of Justice
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- FIDA
- State security agencies
- Relevant state and federal authorities
Additional outputs will include a Media Documentary, public communiqués, and litigation support through pro bono legal networks.
The 2025 Port Harcourt session of the People’s Tribunal reaffirmed the pressing need for credible, people-centred justice mechanisms in Nigeria. By giving voice to victims, spotlighting institutional failures, and facilitating access to justice, the Tribunal continues to play a crucial role in shaping national discourse on human rights, corporate accountability, and environmental governance.
Social Action remains committed to deepening civic engagement, strengthening advocacy for vulnerable communities, and pushing for a Nigeria where rights are respected, institutions are accountable, and justice is accessible to all.
