Draft:Dupe Atoki

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Dupe Atoki

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Dupe Atoki
Born
Dupe Catherine Fadile

(1955-10-10) October 10, 1955 (age 69)
Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria
EducationAhmadu Bello University (LLB)
Nigerian Law School
Washington College of Law (Advanced Diploma)
Occupation(s)Lawyer, Human rights Practitioner, Public Administrator, Diplomat, Judge
Known forChairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (2011–2013)
Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council (Nigeria) (2013–2017)
Judge of the ECOWAS Court of Justice (2018–present)
SpouseThe late Gbenga Atoki
Children3
AwardsGUSI Peace Prize (2013)
Honorary Citizen of Georgia (U.S. state) (2015)
Guiding Light and Leadership Award, Nigerian Bar Association (2016)

Dupe Atoki (born 10 October 1955) is a Nigerian lawyer, human rights practitioner, public administrator, diplomat, and judge of the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 2018. She served as Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights from 2011 to 2013, becoming the first Nigerian woman to head an African Union (AU) organ. As Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council (Nigeria) from 2013 to 2017, she introduced reforms that enhanced consumer rights and accountability of multinational corporations.[1]

Early life and education

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Dupe Atoki was born Dupe Catherine Fadile on 10 October 1955 in Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria, to the family of S.M. Fadile. She received her early education at St. Paul’s Catholic Primary School and St. Monica’s Secondary School in Kabba, completing her secondary education in 1973. She then attended the Federal Government College, Ilorin, from 1973 to 2014, where she earned her Higher School Certificate (Australia)|Higher School Certificate and served as the institution’s first head girl at age 18, demonstrating early leadership.[2]

Atoki pursued a law degree at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating with an LLB. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 after completing professional training at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos. Furthering her expertise, she earned an advanced diploma in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the Washington College of Law, USA, and certificates on Arbitration from Centre for Transnational Studies UK and Governance and Anti-Corruption, Negotiation in International Development from the International Law Institute, Washington DC.[3]

Career

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Atoki began her legal career with the mandatory National Youth Service Corps at the Ministry of Justice in Maiduguri, Borno State, from 1977 to 1978. Over four decades, she established herself as a prominent lawyer, serving as Principal Partner of Gbenga Atoki Chambers from 1993 to 2007. The firm specialized in corporate, commercial, arbitration, and human rights law, growing under her strategic leadership.

Atoki’s expertise in legal drafting contributed to Nigeria’s presidential committees, where she reviewed investment laws and laws discriminatory against women, advocating for legal reforms to promote equity and economic growth.[4]

The National Level: Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria

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From 2013 to 2017, Atoki served as Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council (Nigeria)|Consumer Protection Council (CPC) of Nigeria, where she introduced a four-year strategic plan that transformed the agency into a proactive institution, focusing on consumer education, enforcement against multinationals, and regulatory compliance especially by Multinational Corporation who flagrantly abuse consumer rights. This significantly increased consumer awareness and assertiveness.[5] and curtailed the impunity of multinationals corporations through sanctions and prosecutions.

In that regard, she intervened in several sectors of the economy including the electricity, aviation, multi-media, financial and food and beverage sectors. Her intervention in the food & beverage sector generated a face -off with the Council by the Nigerian Bottling Company- the bottler of the world’s must consume beverage drink. However, in line with the Council’s powers, the company was prosecuted and brought to compliance with the extant laws and best international practices. Her bravery in this regard was commended by a widely read newspaper- This Day- which devoted its editorial in 2014 to the publicized feud between the corporation and CPC saying that Nigeria is “not a jungle without rules,” crediting her with establishing a sustainable consumer protection regime.[5]

The African Union (AU)

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In 2007, Atoki was elected by the AU’s Heads of State and Government as a Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.[6] She later served as Chairperson from 2011 to 2013. She reinvigorated the Commission’s mission, enhancing engagement with AU Member States and strengthening the African human rights system. During the 54th Ordinary Session in 2013, she highlighted the plight of Africans living in poverty and the erosion of human rights gains due to conflict and impunity.[7] Her diplomatic strategy included engaging UN bodies, such as the Human Rights Council, and African leaders and to uphold their treaty obligations.

A notable achievement was her role in 2009, when the African Commission persuaded the Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi to halt the execution of approximately 200 death row prisoners, showcasing her diplomatic tact.[8] Atoki also served as Chairperson of the AU Committee against Torture (2009), Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Places of Detention (2008), and legal consultant reviewing AU statutes in 2006–2007. Her work as Special Rapporteur included advocating for improved conditions for correctional services.[9][10]

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

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Hon. Justice Dupe Atoki, 2018.

Since 2018, Atoki has served as a judge of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, following her election at the ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government.[11] Considering that Human right protection is the epicenter of the ECOWAS court’s jurisdiction, Justice Atoki brings to bear her knowledge and extensive experience in human rights law to the jurisprudence of the court. Her judicial work continues to shape West Africa’s human rights landscape, promoting accountability and justice.[12]

  • Atoki at the swearing ceremony - ECOWAS Court
    Atoki at the swearing ceremony - ECOWAS Court
  • Atoki at the swearing ceremony with HE Muhammudu Buhar
    Atoki at the swearing ceremony with HE Muhammudu Buhar

Personal life

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Atoki was married to the late Gbenga Atoki, a lawyer, and they have three children: daughters Teniola and Temitope, and son Folajimi, all married with children.[13]

Awards and honours

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Memberships

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References

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  1. ^ ECOWAS Court of Justice, Official Biography of Justice Dupe Atoki, 2018.
  2. ^ Personal Records, Dupe Atoki, Kabba, Kogi State.
  3. ^ Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Records; Washington College of Law Certification.
  4. ^ Gbenga Atoki Chambers, Firm Profile, 1993–2007.
  5. ^ a b "Consumer Protection Council: How Far, How Good?". The Nation Nigeria. 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  6. ^ "Nigeria: Rights Activist Nominated to AU Commission". AllAfrica. 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  7. ^ Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria, Annual Report, 2013–2017; Editorial, Nigerian National Newspaper, 2014.
  8. ^ AU Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Libya Engagement Report, 2009.
  9. ^ "Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa: Introduction". Association for the Prevention of Torture. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  10. ^ "23rd Activity Report" (PDF). African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. 2007–2008. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  11. ^ "Former CPC Director-General, Dupe Atoki, Sworn in as Judge of ECOWAS Court". Frontline News Nigeria. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  12. ^ "ECOWAS Court declares sections of Nigerian press law as human rights violations". The Sun Nigeria. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  13. ^ Family Records, Dupe Atoki.
  14. ^ "New DG of Consumer Protection Council Becomes First African to Receive Asia Peace Prize". Business News Nigeria. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  15. ^ "Nigeria: Consumer Protection Council Boss Wins Gusi Peace Prize". AllAfrica. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  16. ^ Open Society Foundation and Pan-African Lawyers Union, Award Citation, 2013.
  17. ^ State of Georgia, Honorary Citizen Certificate, 2015.
  18. ^ Nigerian Bar Association, Guiding Light and Leadership Award Citation, 2016.
  19. ^ International Bar Association Membership Records.
  20. ^ Family Records, Dupe Atoki.
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