By Franklin Adole
Mohammed Bello Adoke, former Attorney-General of the Federation, has raised alarm over what he described as a growing erosion of international law, warning that the increasing dominance of unilateral actions by powerful states is pushing the world towards a dangerous new order defined more by power than by rules.
Delivering a keynote address at a breakout session of the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association, themed “Unilateralism, Multilateralism and the New World Order,” Adoke said recent global developments have exposed deep cracks in the international system established after the Second World War, particularly the ability of institutions like the United Nations to enforce compliance with international law.
He noted that while the principles underpinning global order, such as state sovereignty, non-intervention, and the prohibition of the use of force without United Nations Security Council approval, remain intact on paper, their practical application has weakened significantly.
“There is a certain unease in the air of our time,” Adoke said, observing that the world is increasingly confronted with a troubling reality where “the rules are still written, but no one is quite sure who is obeying them anymore.”
According to him, the growing trend of unilateralism, where powerful nations act independently without multilateral consent, has become normalised, undermining the credibility of the global legal framework.
Citing recent international crises, Adoke pointed to what he described as a controversial intervention by the United States in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolás Maduro without the authorisation of the United Nations Security Council. He argued that such actions represent a clear violation of the UN Charter and highlight the inability of global institutions to respond effectively due to political divisions and the veto power structure within the Security Council.
He contrasted this with the ongoing war in Ukraine, where Russia’s invasion has drawn widespread condemnation and resolutions from the United Nations General Assembly, but little in terms of enforcement.
“Resolutions are not tanks. Condemnation is not enforcement,” he said, stressing that the situation underscores the limits of multilateralism when confronted with entrenched geopolitical interests.
Adoke also referenced rising tensions involving Iran and the protracted conflict in Gaza, noting that both situations reflect a recurring pattern in which strategic interests override legal obligations, leaving international law reactive rather than preventive.
On Gaza, he described the humanitarian crisis as a “moral test” for the international system, acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defence under international law but warning that such a right is not without limits.
He emphasised that the principles of necessity, proportionality, and distinction between combatants and civilians must guide military actions, adding that the scale of destruction and civilian casualties in Gaza has intensified global debate over compliance with international humanitarian law.
Adoke lamented that while the United Nations continues to call for ceasefires and propose resolutions, political divisions often render such efforts ineffective, with real-time developments on the ground outpacing diplomatic interventions.
“The bombs do not wait for diplomacy,” he said, describing Gaza as a reflection of a global system struggling to restrain power and prevent human suffering amid geopolitical stalemate.
Addressing the broader concept of multilateralism, Adoke maintained that while it remains essential for addressing global challenges, it is increasingly constrained by structural and political realities. He identified key challenges, including the imbalance of power within the United Nations Security Council, selective compliance by states, and institutional paralysis in times of crisis.
“Multilateralism is not failing because it is wrong. It is failing because it is inconvenient to power,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Adoke warned that the emerging world order is characterised by strategic fragmentation, erosion of established norms, and growing cynicism towards international law. He cautioned that repeated violations of legal frameworks across multiple global conflicts risk setting dangerous precedents that could further weaken the system.
He stressed that the implications of these developments are particularly severe for weaker states, including those in Africa, which are more vulnerable to the consequences of a breakdown in global order.
“Unilateralism rarely knocks on the doors of the powerful first. It begins at the margins,” he said, warning that history has consistently shown that the collapse of rules disproportionately affects less powerful nations.
Adoke called for deeper reflection on the future of global governance, posing critical questions about whether the world should abandon multilateralism due to its flaws or strengthen it despite its challenges.
He argued that the alternative to a rules-based system is not efficiency, but chaos.
Concluding his address, Adoke urged stakeholders to defend and reinforce the principles of international law established in the aftermath of global conflict, warning that failure to do so could result in a world where legal norms are overshadowed entirely by raw power.
“If we don’t defend the system, we may wake up in a world where the law is silent, and only power speaks,” he said.