Nigeria, Nov. 21 -- Israel Usman pushed his way through a mass of robed bodies at the door as he struggled to enter the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Lagos, early November. It was a few minutes past 11 a.m. and the registrar had called out, from a file he was clutching, "Suit number FHC/1/311C between The Inspector General of Police and Segun Ode and others." The case involved the police and 57 youth accused of homosexual activities last year and Mr Usman was representing most of the defendants.

The courtrooms at the Federal High Court in Lagos are, arguably, among the tiniest and most uncomfortable in the country. On every given day, just about two dozen people are seated in the room while the rest - lawyers, plaintiffs, defend...