Meet the man teaching Nigerians their rights, one broadcast at a time

In a country where legal language often sounds like Greek to the average citizen, one man has made it his mission to bridge the gap between the courtroom and the community.
Samuel Omotoso, lawyer, researcher, and human rights educator, has spent more than a decade translating complex laws into plain, actionable knowledge for everyday Nigerians.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Tolulope Popoola sits with Omotoso to discuss how he’s using radio, television, and grassroots advocacy to bring the law closer to the people, making justice not just an abstract ideal, but a living, everyday reality.

Interviewer: Samuel, you’ve spent more than ten years simplifying the law for ordinary Nigerians. What first inspired you to start this work?

Samuel: Two things, the justice gap and the language gap. Many Nigerians face police stops, land disputes, or election issues, but the law is often written in a way that excludes them. I realised early that legal literacy is power. When people understand their rights and how to use them, justice becomes more than an idea; it becomes action.

Interviewer: Many people got to know you during the pandemic through Law Unrobed on Law Television. What was the goal of that program?

Samuel: During COVID-19, we saw the risk of government overreach. Law Unrobed was about stripping away legal jargon and helping people understand what was still lawful, from police powers and freedom of movement to access to courts and economic rights during lockdowns. If people know the rules, they can insist on them.

Interviewer: From 2021 to 2022, you anchored People’s Courts on Eagles FM 102.3 Abuja, a station with over 5.5 million listeners. What made that platform so powerful?

Samuel: Scale and interactivity. Reaching millions is great, but giving them a voice is even better. Every Saturday, we took live calls and broke down real issues, bail, unlawful searches, detention conditions, and electoral rights. The audience trusted the station’s credibility, so our explanations carried weight. It wasn’t just awareness; it led to behaviour change. Listeners started documenting violations, seeking counsel, and demanding due process.

Interviewer: You’ve also led the Know Your Rights campaign under the Initiative for Legal Literacy and Advocacy (ILLA) since 2015. What does that look like in practice?

Samuel: It’s a multi-platform education campaign, articles, explainer videos, town halls, social media, and radio. The idea is to meet people where they are and show them exactly what to do: how to report abuse, seek legal aid, and preserve evidence. It’s steady, consistent work, and we’ve seen measurable progress in reporting and resistance to rights violations.

Interviewer: You’ve linked environmental issues to human rights through Operation Save the Environment. Why that focus?

Samuel: Because environmental harm is a rights issue. It affects livelihoods, health, and housing. We worked with communities facing land seizures, combined investigative work with legal advocacy, and pushed for accountability. Rights are interconnected; environment, poverty, and security all overlap.

Interviewer: Your early work at the University of Abuja Law Clinic led to the release of 90 detainees from unlawful pretrial detention. What did that experience teach you?

Samuel: That access to counsel can change lives instantly. It also showed me that reform must be both immediate and structural, freeing people today while fixing the systems that cause injustice tomorrow.

Interviewer: You were nominated as a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) in 2021, which recognises professionals at the top of their fields. How did that feel?

Samuel: It was humbling. The IMC is highly respected, and being nominated affirms years of consistent work in human rights and legal education. I accepted the nomination and am currently completing the formal confirmation process.

Interviewer: One of your viral articles, Who Needs the Infectious Disease Bill 2020?, sparked major debate. What was your argument?

Samuel: I questioned whether the bill balanced public health with constitutional safeguards. I examined due process, privacy, and proportionality, and argued that emergency powers must be time-bound and rights-respecting. People were scared of both the virus and government overreach. The article helped frame the discussion around protecting health and liberty.

Interviewer: Your approach blends law, media, and policy. Why has the media become such a vital part of your advocacy?

Samuel: COVID changed everything. People were home, consuming more content than ever. I realised media could become a classroom, a tool for empowerment. Litigation can solve one person’s problem, but the media can educate millions before their rights are even violated. When you democratize knowledge, you multiply justice.

Interviewer: For those who first learned about their rights from your broadcasts, what’s your core message?

Samuel: Use your rights. Document, ask questions, demand counsel, vote, appeal, organise. The law belongs to the people, and informed citizens are its strongest defenders.

Interviewer: What keeps you motivated?

Samuel: Every time someone says, “I didn’t know I could challenge that, and I did,” it fuels me. Justice moves one informed person at a time, and then all at once.

From Law Unrobed to People’s Courts, from law clinics to grassroots campaigns, Samuel Omotoso’s work has reshaped public legal understanding in Nigeria. He proves that when laws are explained clearly and claimed boldly, justice isn’t just a privilege, it’s a public power.