The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau SAN, has directed the association’s Public Interest and Development Law Section (SPIDEL) to immediately suspend its ongoing public interest lawsuits and advocacy interventions. In a letter dated 31st January, 2024, Maikyau accused SPIDEL Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins of undertaking unauthorized actions beyond the section’s mandate that undermine the NBA leadership. He cited several recent high-profile SPIDEL legal cases and demands made to government agencies and directed SPIDEL officials to halt further activities pending a meeting on February 1st and approval from NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC). Maikyau stressed that SPIDEL lacks constitutional powers to unilaterally represent the NBA or take actions without authorization. Sources describe the crackdown as a fallout of SPIDEL’s surging activist profile that has rattled influential figures. Critics say forcing SPIDEL to cease its public interest work spel