BY MICHAEL UCHE UKPONU, LL.B (Hons); B.L (Hons); MCIArb (UK)
Abstract
It is fair to comment that the dispensation of environmental justice and the implementation of environmental laws in Nigeria have suffered various challenges, especially the slow adjudication of environmental cases by regular courts with heavy caseloads spanning across different causes of action. This causes delays in accessing environmental justice to the detriment of affected persons. This paper proposes the establishment of a specialised National Environment and Planning Tribunal (NEPT) to ensure the efficient and informed dispensation of environmental justice in Nigeria, citing successes recorded by specialised environmental courts/tribunals in Australia and India.
Keywords: Environmental Courts and Tribunals (ECTs), Environmental Justice, Environmental Law, Nigeria.
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Michael Uche Ukponu obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Honours from Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State in 2012 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013. Since then, he has been in active legal practice in diverse areas of law. He has been an Associate Counsel at The Law Partners, a fast-rising law firm with offices in Abuja and Kano, from 2013 to 2018.
It was on the strength of his passion for sustainable development in the renewable energy, natural resources and the environment sectors that he was granted the Australia Awards Scholarship by the Australian Government to undertake studies in Energy and Resources Law (LL.M) at The University of Melbourne, a internationally top-ranking university in Australia. He is a member of notable international professional associations, including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (Australasian Branch) and the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. Currently, he specializes in energy and environmental law in Nigeria. He pastimes watching soccer games and discussing political issues.