By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigerian lawyer Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen, recently honoured with the International Bar Association (IBA) Pro Bono Award, has announced the acquittal of two defendants after a trial lasting about six years.
Nurudeen, who defended the defendants through the Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development (FPIL&D), also known as The Pro Bono Centre, said the outcome was a bittersweet experience, as the court’s decision brought freedom to two defendants while leaving him concerned about the third.
In a statement shared on Facebook page, he said his team successfully defended five of the eight counts brought against the defendants.
He added that the court discharged and acquitted two of the three defendants, who had been in custody since January 12, 2020.
“Personally, this is a bittersweet experience. I celebrate the freedom of the two acquitted, even as the outcome for the third weighs heavily on me,” he said.
Congratulating the two men on regaining their freedom, Nurudeen reflected on the human cost of prolonged court proceedings.
“Behind every case file is a human life and years that can never be recovered,” he added.
Nurudeen is the founder of the Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, which provides free legal representation to indigent and vulnerable people who cannot afford legal services.
On October 8, 2026, he received the IBA Pro Bono Award at the association’s annual conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in recognition of his sustained commitment to expanding access to justice in Nigeria.
He dedicated the international recognition to the foundation’s network of 141 volunteer lawyers operating across 18 states, who provide legal services without expecting financial rewards.
The latest case highlights the role of pro bono legal representation in defending the rights of people facing criminal proceedings, particularly those who may lack the financial means to secure legal assistance.
