Conferences, seminars and exhibitions

Workshop: Pre-trail detention in Lagos (2018)

Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos, August 9th, 2018.

Workshop with several academics from different disciplines about the pre-trial detention problem in Lagos and Nigeria and possible solutions.

Speakers and participants: Prof. O.A. Omobitan (Economics), Dr. O.F Ogunlana (Economics), Dr. B.A Moshood (Political Science), Prof. Tunji Azeez (Theatre Art & Music), Dr. Suraj Mudasiru (Political Science), Dr. G.A. Olagunju (Law), Prof. S.O Akhaine (Political Science), Dr. Grace Arowolo (Law), Dr. Jubril Jawando (Sociology), Samson Oyefolu (Political Science), Dr. Adedeji Oyenuga (Sociology), Dr. Olatunde Miftah A (Law), Dr. Tobi Oshodi (Political Science), Dr. Joost van Onna (Criminology) and Melle Smets (Arts).

Seminar: Kick-of Event Informal Justice Court (2018)

African Artists' Foundation, Lagos, August 16th, 2018

Seminar to discuss the pre-trail detention situation in Lagos and possible solutions, with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Services, artists, academics, NGO's and Lagos State government officials. Several speakers gave their view on their work and the Informal Justice Court Project.

Speakers: Kalisewon J. Olufemi (Assistant controller Kirikiri Maximum prison, NPS), Tunde Kalaro (Fountain of Life Church), Dr. Tobi Oshodi (Political Science LASU), Sule Bamisbola (Prison Fellowship Nigeria), Bashir Adamu (Dream again), Melle Smets & Joost van Onna (Aardschap).

Exhibition and seminar: Informal Justice Court Room, Part 1 (2018)

African Artists’ Foundation, Lagos, September 8th till 22th, 2018.

First exhibition and seminar about the Informal Justice Project. Openingsspeech by Rotimi Oladokun (PRO manager Nigerian Correctional Service Lagos). The exhibition included infographics gathered from more than 50 reports, articles and other sources on the justice and prison system, causes and effects of crime and informal justice solution in Lagos, Nigeria and abroad. Also a chalk drawing of the sleeping positions (gbegbesue) that inmates take because of overcrowding in the prison cells. And a mental map of factors that cause pressure for Kirikiri, the challenges that Kirikiri faces, the effects of the prison situation for Lagos society and the informal justice systems that help the formal justice and prison system. Also on display objects that reflect the workings of the Lagos justice system. From a criminal law book, through the wig of the prosecutors to the soap made by inmates in Kirikiri Medium Security prison.

The seminar was attended by a wide range of professionals, from the then Director of Ikoyi Prison, the Netherlands Consul in Lagos to the head of the Community Services of the Lagos State government.

Concept, research and artwork: Melle Smets & Joost van Onna

Photos: Neec Nonso & Nguveren Ahua

Funded by: Aardschap Foundation

Hosted by: African Artists’ Foundation

Exhibition Coordination: Nguveren Ahua

Production: Amos Ibrahim, Olayinka Sangotoye

Enlarge artwork of photo below here.

Exhibition and seminar: Informal Justice Court Room, Part 2 (2019)

African Artists’ Foundation (Lagos), May 9th till 19th may 2019.

Second exhibition and seminar about the informal justice project. The exhibition presented the plan for the Informal Justice Court in prison. Infographics illustrated the worldwide dilemma of pre-trail detention and bottom-up initiatives of creating justice. Several artistic representations of the Lagos prison situation visualized the current situation.

The aim of the seminar was to gather input to bring the Informal Justice Court Project to the next level. Several speakers contributed, including Prof. Atsenuwa (then dean of the faculty of Law of UNILAG) who reflected on the idea. Participants included individuals from the Nigerian Correctional Services, Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership, Foundation for Moral Value Reorientation, African Artists’ Foundation, Lagos State University and University of Lagos.

Concept, research and artwork: Melle Smets & Joost van Onna.

Graphic design: Golnar Abbasi

Exhibition coordination: Nguveren Ahau

Exhibition construction: Amos Ibrahim and Mr. Olayinka Sangotoye

Hosted by: African Artists’ Foundation

See the collection of postcards shown below here.

Enlarge artwork on photo below here.

Conference: Innovating Justice Challenge 2019 (2019)

Netherlands Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria (and online), November 14th, 2019.

The conference was organised by The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, in the context of the Justice Accelerator, an innovation programme that funds, trains and scales a global cohort of justice startups each year. Joost van Onna gave a presentation about the Informal Justice Project.

Organiser: The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (Odunoluwa Longe)

Speaker: Joost van Onna (Aardschap)

See: www.hiil.org/justinnovate

Workshop and seminar: Setting up the Informal Justice Court (2020)

African Artists’ Foundation , February 16th and 27th, 2020

Two-day seminar at African Artists’ Foundation in 2020, attended by participating pro-bono lawyers, theatre makers, Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership, Lagos State University and the Nigerian Correctional Services.After two days of brainstorming a detailed plan was ready, in full consensus with all parties. The Informal Justice Court is ready to go!

Participants: Organisation (participant): Olaoluwa Akinremi & Co.(Akinremi Olaoluwa), Grf Dalley & Partners (Judy Imasuen, Joseph Oriyomi, Saheed Azeez), Lagos State University (Tunji Azeez, Toritseju Ejoh, Bagbenga Bamodu, Elerubo Theresa), Nigerian Correctional Services (Rotimi Oladokun), Wall & Ace Lp (Dipo Famodimu), Prisoners Rights Advocacy Initiative (Oluwadunsin Komolafe, Segun Adefila), Abiri & Mustapha Legal Practitioners (Zeniath Abiri), The Optimist Attorneys (Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen), Fountain Of Life Church (Modupe Olubamowo), Vigilantis Law (Abdulwasiu Esuola), Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership (Ojelabi Ayomide, Ogunbiyi Michael, Oluwatayo Olubukola, Funmilayo Owuye).

Hosted by: African Artists’ Foundation

Conference: Annual Conference of Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law 2020: Harnessing Potential (2020)

Two-day online conference, October 15th and 16th, 2020.

This Annual Conference, Organized by of partners of the project, brings together representatives from national and international governments and policy organs, think-thanks, journalists, NGO practitioners, activists, diplomats and field researchers from around the globe.

Session Legal Education: Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria (together with World Justice Project)

Speakers: Joost van Onna & Melle Smets (Aardschap), Funmilayo Owuye (Lagos Public Law Partnership)

Conference: Night of Ideas 2021 – Closer

Alliance Francaise – Mike Adenuga Centre, LagosJanuary 28th, 2021.

Global conference held by Institute Francaise in Alliances Francaise around the world, including a round table discussion in the Alliance Francaise in Lagos on the topic of Closer, the central theme of the event is our relationship with space and others, for each of us and within our societies.

Organiser: Alliance Francaise in Lagos and French Embassy in Nigeria (Paul Lompech)

Speaker: Prof. Tunji Azeez (LASU) about the Informal Justice Court Project

Conference: Justice delayed, justice denied? An interdisciplinary evening on accessing justice in Lagos

Organizers: Aardschap Foundation (NL), Public Interest Law Partnership (NI) and Lagos State University (NI)

**Host: **Alliance Francaise Lagos

Location: Alliance Francaise Lagos / Mike Adenuga Centre

During the conference , the first findings were presented alongside a theater performance about the project (a peak preview of the Stage 4 theater play), followed by a round table discussion on implementing alternatives to pretrial detention with distinguished panelists and the presentation of the annual Pro Bono awards.

**Panelists: Mr. **Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN (Attorney General Lagos State), Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran (Attorney General Ogun State), Professor Atsenuwa (Prof. of Law at UNILAG) and Mr. Ahmed Kazeem (Prisoners'Rights Advocay Initiative)