Wikipedia

Nelson Olanipekun

Nelson Olanipekun is a Nigerian human rights lawyer, entrepreneur, and founder of Citizens' Gavel.[1][2][3] He graduated from Ekiti State University and the University of Ibadan. He started Citizens' Gavel in 2017, which aims to improve the pace of justice delivery through the use of technology.[4] He is notable for being a co-strategist and legal counsel for the End SARS campaign alongside Segun Awosanya in 2017.[5]

Nelson Olanipekun
Nelson Olanipekun in his Ibadan office
NationalityNigerian
EducationEkiti State University, University of Ibadan
OccupationHuman rights Lawyer
Years active2014–present
OrganizationCitizens' Gavel
Known forFounding Citizens' Gavel
Notable work#EndSARS Movement

Education

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Nelson attended the Ekiti State University and graduated with a LLB in 2013, after which he proceeded to Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the bar in 2014. While in Law School, he created an online platform that helps legal practitioners, law students and those interested in legal issues to interact with the view to collaborate and bridge the gap that comes with jurisdictional issues. In 2016, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan for a master's degree course in forensic science where he graduated in 2017.[6]

Career

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Upon completing his law degree, he interned with the Justice Development Peace Center in Ondo State. The internship introduced him to his early work in the development sector.[7] After his call to the bar, Nelson Olanipekun worked with Bola Ige & Co. from 2014 to 2015 before proceeding to Oluwaseun Dada & Co. from 2015 to 2017. At this time he came up with the idea to form his own civic tech organization due to time wastage in securing justice.[8]

In 2017, he established Citizens' Gavel, a civic tech organization aimed at improving the pace of justice delivery through the use of technology, after an incubation programme of Civic Hive (the incubation and media arm of BudgIT).[9] He started operations in Lagos before opening offices in Ibadan and Abuja.[10][11][12] It was known as Open Justice at the time of establishment.[13][14]

Nelson, through Gavel, started the first Social Media legal aid initiative providing assistance for victims of human rights, domestic violence, and bank extortion. He is known for his work on police brutality, coercion and extrajudicial killings. As a co-strategist alongside Segun Awosanya and legal consultant to End SARS, a movement committed to the eradication of SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad), he and his team secured a presidential order to overhaul the squad.[15] Gavel started with 9 staff members but has since grown to 16 full-time staff and works with over 150 lawyers across 19 states of Nigeria.[16]

He started Gavel to help the poor access speedy delivery of justice. He developed the urge to provide legal aid regardless of economic constraints due to his childhood experiences. His father had taken a loan from the bank to run a grocery distribution company that went bad. Even though he had paid the loan in full, the bank came to sell his house, which was used as collateral. With the aid of a pro bono lawyer, they were able to get justice and retain the house.[17]

On the 7th of December 2019, he wrote to Clement Boutillier of the European Union to blacklist the Department of State Services (DSS) over the re-arrest of Omoyele Sowore, convener of Revolution Now Movement. This was after the DSS operatives stormed the Federal High Court, Abuja, to re-arrest Sowore. He also asked the EU to place a travel ban on the DSS leaders.[18]

Personal life

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Nelson is a Christian. He once stated in an interview that he loves movies and video games.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Onukwue, Alexander (9 October 2019). "Lawsuits, police tracking, pressure: Inside the strategy to end police brutality". Tech Cabal. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  2. ^ Dimma, Mabel (17 December 2017). "Everyone deserves a second chance and access to justice". Business Day. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  3. ^ "A Hopefully Peaceful Future - Topics - Government.nl". 15 November 2019.
  4. ^ Abas, Akeem (10 August 2019). "NGO unveils application to tackle rights abuse". NNN. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Nigeria | One Young World".
  6. ^ Dimma, Mabel (17 December 2017). "Everyone deserves a second chance and access to justice". Business Day. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  7. ^ Omolayo, Omotola (19 March 2018). "How Gavel intends to transform the judicial system using technology". Naira Metrics. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  8. ^ Unah, Linus (30 December 2018). "How technology is helping Nigerians get speedy access to justice". TRT World. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  9. ^ Abas, Akeem (10 August 2019). "NGO unveils application to tackle rights abuse". NNN. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ Iwenwanne, Valentine (14 November 2018). "Nigeria's civic tech startups". Devex. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Gavel".
  12. ^ Dimma, Mabel (17 December 2017). "Everyone deserves a second chance and access to justice". This Day. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  13. ^ Awojulugbe, Oluseyi (3 August 2017). "BudgIT launches Civic Hive to tackle problems at the grassroots". The Cable. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Tech for Justice: Civic Hive's Gavel Proves "Justice for All" is Possible: BudgIT".
  15. ^ "Nigeria | One Young World".
  16. ^ Dimma, Mabel (17 December 2017). "Everyone deserves a second chance and access to justice". This Day. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  17. ^ Nwaogu, Uchechi (25 April 2019). "Gavel: an organization that makes all the difference". The Circular. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  18. ^ Shibayan, Dyepkazah (7 December 2019). "NGO asks EU to blacklist DSS over rearrest of Sowore". The Cable. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  19. ^ Dimma, Mabel (17 December 2017). "Everyone deserves a second chance and access to justice". Business Day. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
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