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  • Lagos NBA probes AfriLand Towers fire

    Lagos NBA probes AfriLand Towers fire

    AN independent panel of inquiry has been set up by the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, to investigate the tragic fire that engulfed AfriLand Towers on Broad Street, Lagos.

    The panel has been given an initial 21 days to conclude its inquiry, though the mandate may be extended if necessary.

    The incident, which occurred on September 16, 2025, led to multiple fatalities, including an esteemed member of the branch.

    Announcing the panel in Lagos, Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Uchenna Akingbade, said the association was compelled to act in line with its mandate to defend the rule of law and protect human rights, particularly the right to life and safety.

     “This fire incident has claimed valuable lives, including one of our own. Human beings have a right to life and a right to go about their business in a safe environment. What happened at AfriLand Towers is a tragedy that calls for accountability. We want to ask certain questions which everybody has been asking: were necessary safety protocols observed? Could this have been prevented? Could lives have been saved?”

    Read Also: NBA: Physician, heal thyself

     “The composition of this panel was carefully thought out. We have deemed it pertinent to set up this independent investigative panel to look into these issues. The outcome of the inquiry will drive our advocacy for policy reform, and if we find that there are certain matters to escalate to relevant authorities, whether criminal or civil, we will do that. That is the essence of this exercise.

     “Let it be on record that this is not a government panel; it is an independent inquiry. The NBA, as the watchdog of society, is well within its rights to ask these questions, more so now that our beloved and esteemed branch member was among those who lost their lives.”

     “The NBA is not the police. We cannot prosecute but we will present our findings to the authorities and use them as a tool for advocacy to strengthen safety laws, ensure accountability, and protect lives,” Akingbade said.

     The panel is chaired by Mr. Nonso Azih, with Mrs. Vivian Okoh-Olutunfese as alternate chair. Azih explained that the panel would adopt a multidisciplinary approach by co-opting experts such as medical doctors, safety officers, engineers, and facility managers alongside its six-member team of lawyers.

     “This is not just a lawyers’ affair, we will look at legal and regulatory issues, but also call on other professionals to give a holistic assessment. The essence is to prevent future occurrences. Lives may have been lost, but we must ensure they did not die in vain,” Azih said.

    Citing past precedents such as the independent inquiry conducted after the death of a medical officer in a faulty lift at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Azih stressed that the NBA panel’s role was not to witch-hunt but to expose irregularities and recommend remedies.

  • NBA: Physician, heal thyself

    NBA: Physician, heal thyself

    If one finger brings oil, it soils the others   – Igbo proverb

    This is an indictment (the adjudged role of Mike Ozekhome in the Tali Shani case) on the Nigerian legal system. The truth is that, not just SANs, but the Nigerian legal profession as a whole, including the judiciary, need to look inwards, and undertake to do better – Onikepo Braithwaite

    LET ME begin by saying that the words in parenthesis are not Onikepo Braithwaite’s. They are mine. They were inserted to situate the quote in the context of the subject it came from. Braithwaite, a lawyer, was commenting on the now famous Tali Shani case in which Mike Ozekhome (SAN), was a principal character. This column dwelt on the subject last week and returns to it today because of the deafening silence, so far, of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the matter.

    NBA is ever ready to comment on matters that have no bearings to the group, its members and activities. It can issue tons of statements when the matter concerns government and incidental matters, but when it comes to looking inwards, it loses its voice. This is already happening in the Tali Shani case which was decided by Judge Ewan Paton in London, 14 days ago. The Tali Shani case involves five Nigerian lawyers, with the most senior of them being Ozekhome. They became four after one of them withdrew on seeing that the game was up.

    Judge Paton did not find the conduct of all these lawyers funny at all in the case which he described in unflattering terms: “…proceedings of a quite extraordinary nature, with mutual allegations of identity fraud by impersonation… These in turn generated multiple allegations of forgery of documents, fraud, conspiracy and corruption of public officials”. That a SAN, his lawyer son, and three other Nigerian lawyers were involved in such a case is a cause for concern.

    But NBA, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), which confers the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which is equivalent to King’s or Queen’s Counsel in the UK, on deserving lawyers, and the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), nor the usual crowd of noisy activist lawyers, some of who are SAN have not deemed it right to come out openly and boldly as Braithwaite did to say something.

    NBA, in particular, is known to be a champion of ‘saying something, if you see something’. Why is it tongue-tied in this instant case? If it were a top public officer that was at the centre of this matter, these groups and individuals would have been appearing on television talking their heads off or writing articles upon articles in newspapers calling for the heads of those involved.

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    NBA, LPDC, LPPC and BOSAN were not created to exist in name only. They were founded for a purpose. NBA, a professional body, was founded to advance the cause of lawyers. All it takes to be a member is to be a certified lawyer who is registered as a solicitor and advocate at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. LPDC is the disciplinary arm of the profession. LPPC handles the conferment of the Silk (gown donned by SANs) and other related privileges on exceptional lawyers. BOSAN is the elite association of SANs.

    Understandably, NBA as the voice of the profession, speaks and acts on members’ behalf on socio-economic and political issues as they unfold. Over the years, NBA has become a pressure group, with succeeding administrations courting it and seeking its input from time to time on critical national matters. The NBA that I knew in the late 80s was vibrant, highly critical and uncompromising. It put the society first and fought to defend what is right. It was not an association of anything goes that the NBA of today has become. It is sad that NBA can comment on the Osun local government fund and Natasha cases, but is silent on the Tali Shani case.

    That the case took place in a foreign land should not be an excuse for NBA not to speak on it. Perhaps, it is still waiting for the certified  true copy (CTC) of the judgment or for the registration of the verdict here in Nigeria before acting! In other climes, by now, Ozekhome, his son, Osilama, Mohammed Edewor, Abimbola Badejo, and Kingsley Efemuai, all the Nigerian lawyers named in the case would have been invited by their professional association for debriefing to find out what really happened. Is it true? The association would have sought to know, at least to hear from the lawyers, as a way of giving them benefit of the doubt, despite the damning judgment.

    What is more. Such a step would have been taken with the public aware of what is going on. Why? Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. But (our) NBA cannot be bothered by such issues of integrity. It shies away from placing itself on the same scale with which it weighs others. It is more interested in filthy lucre, collecting money here and there under the guise of holding its annual bar conference. It collected N300 million from Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and kept quiet. Yet, it had the audacity to move its last annual bar conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu following the emergency rule then imposed on the state.

    Refunding the money became a problem when the state’s former administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas asked for it. NBA said it would only refund the money to a ‘democratic’ government. Now, that Fubara is back on the saddle, there can be no better time than now for it to return the money, and publicly too. The Tali Shani matter should not be treated with levity. It is too messy for NBA, LPDC, LPPC and BOSAN to overlook. If they are waiting for a petition before they act, many Nigerians are willing to send them one. All they need to do is to say the word, and the petitions will flood in.

    Keeping silent over this matter is dangerous. Such silence, to the ordinary Nigerian, means consent. If not, those lawyers should no longer, as of right, be seen in the gathering of their colleagues, until they have cleared their names. Ozekhome of all people should have known better. He should have seen from the outset that he was dipping his hands into fire, especially after the judge drew all the parties’ attention to another case involving the same Shani, but with a different first name of Tim. In that case decided by the Jersey Royal Court in the Channel Islands, the late General Jeremiah Timbut Useni aka Tim Shani forfeited £1.9 million for money laundering under a fictitious name.

    The same Useni, Judge Paton found, used the false name of Tali Shani to acquire the 79, Randall Avenue, London property, which Ozekhome claimed the late general ‘gifted’ him in lieu of ‘legal services’ rendered. His case fell flat on its face, opening a can of worms. NBA has a duty to clear the mess. It was founded not only to fight government and public officials, but to also cleanse itself and promote healthy and not Jankara practice.

    Jankaraism was the topic of discussion here two weeks ago on September 11. NBA cannot be removing the mote in others’ eyes while ignoring the beam in its. As another set of lawyers takes the Silk today, it will be an appropriate forum for the bar and bench to make a bold statement on sanitising the legal profession so as to avoid the kind of shame brought on it by its members who were  involved in the Tali Shani case. Or are the Tali Shani Five not members of NBA? It will be good to get NBA’s response to this poser.

    Silence, I restate, is not an option. If NBA really cares about its image, there is no better time than now to embark on the long-awaited soul-searching that will lead to its rebirth. It is in its interest to embark on this mission so as to save many young and upcoming lawyers from being misled by their seniors who may even be their fathers.

  • NBA President: SAN rank call to leadership, not competition

    NBA President: SAN rank call to leadership, not competition

    President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has charged newly inducted Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) designates to see their elevation as a call to leadership and ethical responsibility, not as a platform for rivalry or unhealthy competition.

    Osigwe gave the charge at the induction ceremony of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) where he addressed the latest set of lawyers set to don the silk.

    He described the attainment of the SAN rank as the pinnacle of legal practice, but warned that remaining worthy of the honour is a greater challenge that requires discipline, resilience and accountability. “Getting to the top is easier, staying there is the real test,” he said.

    The NBA President urged the new silks to resist pressures to measure their success against their peers. According to him, the temptation to replicate another’s financial or professional trajectory often leads to needless rivalry. 

    Read Also: Ex-NBA president rejects bid to terminate ‘$8.4m AGO theft’ trial

    “Move at your own pace and focus on building a career anchored on integrity and service,” he advised. 

    Citing Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, Osigwe reminded them that every lawyer is enjoined to act in obedience to the law and serve as a role model, particularly to younger members of the Bar.

    He further cautioned that certain practices must be abandoned with their new status, including disparaging court judgments without proper study or making public comments on matters pending before the courts.

     “Such conduct must stop once you assume the rank of Senior Advocate,” he said firmly.

    Osigwe’s remarks underscored that the SAN title is more than an honour; it is a responsibility to uphold the dignity of the legal profession and provide ethical leadership.

    The formal conferment of the SAN rank is scheduled to take place at the Supreme Court on September 29, 2025.

  • Lagos NBA protests Navy’s defiance of court judgment

    Lagos NBA protests Navy’s defiance of court judgment

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, has staged a protest in Lagos against what it described as the Nigeria Navy’s unlawful disregard of a subsisting court judgment.

    The protest followed a signal by the Navy declaring Vice Admiral Dada Labinjo (Rtd.), a member of the branch, as a “deserter,” despite a ruling of the National Industrial Court affirming his rights.

    Led by the branch chairman, Mrs. Uchenna Akingbade, the lawyers marched from Marine Bridge, Apapa, and ended the protest at the Navy’s NNS Beecroft command, where they attempted to submit a protest letter to the Chief of Naval Staff through the Flag Officer Commanding.

    The demonstration was held under heavy security, with police officers, military personnel, DSS operatives, and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps stationed along the route.

    At NNS Beecroft, the protesters were addressed by the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Paul Nimmyel, who declined to accept the protest letter, insisting it should be delivered directly to the Chief of Naval Staff in Abuja.

    He also suggested dialogue as an alternative to protest.

    Rejecting his position, Akingbade maintained that dialogue was meaningless in the face of continued disobedience of a lawful court order.

    Read Also: NBA’s haunted Enugu conference

    “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. You cannot call for dialogue while disobeying a court order,” she said.

    Vice Chairman of the branch and Chairman of its Human Rights Committee, James Sonde, also condemned the Navy’s stance, describing it as a violation of fundamental human rights and the rule of law.

    “We are here to deliver a letter in protest against the order issued against our member, which is in clear violation of a judgment of the courts. The matter went as far as the Supreme Court, and afterward the National Industrial Court also delivered judgment, yet the orders remain disobeyed. Instead, a fresh order has been issued against our member. Institutions must learn to obey the courts if the rule of law and democracy are to be protected.”

    Sonde added that the refusal of the Navy to receive the protest letter reflected a deliberate act of disregard. He stressed that the branch would continue to escalate the matter until the Presidency intervenes.

    “Letters have been written and dialogues have taken place, even with the Ministry of Justice, but nothing has been done. If this continues, we will keep escalating until the Presidency hears and calls the Navy to order,” he stated.

    Another member of the branch, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya said: “The Navy’s provocative stance compelled us to take action. We want to send a clear signal that all institutions, including government agencies, must respect the rule of law. Every member of society has a right to have their rights defended, and as long as the NBA exists, we will continue to uphold that responsibility.”

    The protest was attended by branch officers, including Secretary Kelechukwu Uzoka, Treasurer Oge Mokelu, and Publicity Secretary Oliver Omoredia, alongside, Chinelo Okonkwo, Shola Lamid, and Victory Ilugo.

    Reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law, the NBA Lagos Branch warned that persistent disobedience of court orders by state institutions posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

  • NBA faults ‘deserter’ tag on retired vice admiral

    NBA faults ‘deserter’ tag on retired vice admiral

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, has faulted the Nigerian Navy for issuing a signal declaring retired Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo a “deserter”.

    It described the designation as unlawful and in contempt of a subsisting court judgment.

    The navy, on September 3, circulated a signal at declaring “Captain D.O. Labinjo” (Service No. NN0408) and Lt. Cdr. S.A. Ibe-Lamberts (NN0840F) deserters, with orders for their immediate apprehension if found. 

    The signal, signed by GSM Aligwe, claimed that Labinjo had been absent without official leave since December 2, 2019.

    NBA through its chairman, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, argued that the Navy’s action directly contravened the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered on March 24, 2025, in Suit No. NICN/LA/67/2023: Dada Olaniyi Labinjo v. Nigerian Navy & 3 Ors.

    In the ruling, Justice I.G. Nweneka held that Labinjo was not absent without official leave and declared him retired as a Vice Admiral with effect from April 11, 2017, having attained the statutory retirement age of 60 and completed 35 years of service. 

    The court further dismissed the Navy’s attempt to retain him beyond this date.

    “The Navy is fully aware of this judgment, yet it issued a signal declaring him a deserter years after his retirement had been judicially affirmed,” the NBA said.

    Read Also: NBA’s haunted Enugu conference

    Describing the signal as a “grave overreach,” the Lagos Bar insisted that law enforcement agencies must respect the sanctity of judicial decisions. 

    “If dissatisfied with the decision of the court, appropriate lawful channels exist for redress. 

    “The authority of the court cannot be undermined by unlawful signals or arbitrary actions from the Nigerian Navy,” the statement read.

    The association reaffirmed its solidarity with Vice Admiral Labinjo (Rtd.) and vowed to take all necessary legal steps to safeguard his rights. 

    “The rule of law remains the cornerstone of our democracy, and the NBA Lagos Branch will, without compromise, defend and promote it,” NBA stressed.

  • NBA’s fatal regression

    NBA’s fatal regression

    It must be deeply troubling, that in none of the running commentaries on the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association conference has there been any acknowledgment of anything profound or even serious coming from the annual conclave of the supposedly foremost professional body. More like a gathering of a people needing the time out to escape the humdrum of the times, what emerged could be described as a charade – like those ubiquitous parliaments of anything goes in street corners, where serious issues of governance, drenched in extravagant hilarious banters, are reduced to the puerile, partisan stuff as one might expect in typical street debates.

    Nothing of a serious dissection of the ailments plaguing the justice sector let alone the society as a whole; none of the searing questions about the depth that the profession has sunk let alone where it is headed, particularly the derogation of the meaning and the purpose of justice by the supposed ministers in its sacred temple, a tribe which insists on being dubbed as learned!

    Again, aside jarring partisan rants that has since become the trademark of the Obidients of which a good chunk of its attendees insist on being numbered, nothing in the entire deliberations suggested any appreciation of the dire situation which came upon the nation, let alone a robust interrogation of the policies of the Tinubu administration on the basis of which an actionable suggestion(s) could be availed the government, going forward.

    Even the appearance of the Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo, meant to give informed perspectives to what the government has done to address those age-long structural issues that had plagued governance was reduced to a spectacle of sorts with incessant howling by those for whom the administration could never do anything right; and with the all-knowing, fit-for-every-purpose Obiageli Ezekwesili on hand to proclaim with her typical magistracy, all that is wrong with the Tinubu administration, the perfect setting for the inquisition that became of it was all but in place.

    For me however, the biggest joke of the farcical outing was when a poorly scripted act by Channel TV’s Seun Okinbaloye turned out to be a revelation, not so much about the inherent biases, but the pathetic lack of depth of the boisterous presenter! For an individual who proclaims a ‘commitment to delivering accurate and unbiased news’, it was shocking if not shameful to hear the questions framed the way he did.

    “Is Nigeria better today than two years ago?”

    That was supposed to be an ‘educated’ question to the lawyers in conference! For those still enamoured with their specious one-liners, how about flipping the question this way: Could Nigeria have continued on the ruinous trajectory of keeping fuel prices below their actual costs using the funds it does not even have to keep up the appearance of a caring, welfare state? 

    Or this: “Do you think the nation is on the right path with the policies of the Tinubu government?” Even granted that the issue of perception is valid to the individual, the very idea of framing things in the manner that he did would seem ordinarily ‘uneducated’, not only because he failed to narrow it to the specifics but that it was done in clear ignorance of the complex variables which underlie and shape them.

    Read Also: DSS summons Sowore over post on Tinubu

    So which of the policies could he be referring to here? Is it the most contentious one – the removal of fuel subsidy on which the treasury gets to shell out trillions of naira for the joy of keeping the millions of rickety contraptions on the poorly maintained roads? Or the state-licenced bazaar under which only the high and mighty could access foreign exchange at official sources which are more often than not sold at the black market at premium with nary value addition to the national economy? Could it be a return to the ‘good old days’, when foreign airlines, hit by the non-remittance of sales proceeds were leaving Nigeria in droves? 

    Still, there is another question that came forth: “Is your hope renewed now?”

    Aside being the uncharitable, it is perhaps the most banal and uneducated. Of course, our ‘world acclaimed’ journalist got the answer that he wanted. Yet, I verily believe that he did himself a lot of injustice in the way he pandered to street narratives on the history and the trajectory of the economy. That question – ‘Is your hope renewed now’ – would at normal times, stand as an indictment to a profession that require depth and rigour as indeed a proper, contextual frame of analysis. Once let out, it is hard to imagine greater violence to the ancient craft by an individual, all in the service of narrow, partisan ends.  It is, like someone said the other day – like law; like journalism. Sad. 

    But I digress.

    At issue of course is the future of the justice sector itself. The other day, I saw a video of an elder of the profession openly lament the supplanting of the rules of seniority by the latter days actors; the new kids on the block – the television lawyers, emergency activists and the usual stragglers. Poor fellow, he couldn’t understand why the front row, ordinarily reserved for the elders were taken by baby lawyers leaving them to scramble for the back seats. And why would he, when only a few days prior, one of the freshly minted wigs, was on the social media to advertise his sprawling chambers which he claimed was worth more than the value of his innumerable exotic cars at N50 million! In other words, since when did a wig cease to be a wig?

    By the way, I choose to pass off, the moral question posed by the leadership of the elite body, a body with scores of millionaires in its rank, going cap in hand to state governments, for funds to host its conference. So also is its leadership’s insistence on keeping Rivers’ N300 million when the latter asked for a refund after it reneged on the hosting rights.

    To those who still care to remember, neither the rot nor the ingrained delinquency, start yesterday. Once upon a time, there was a well-reported story of a learned fellow, who brazenly accused a judge in the open court, of demanding a bribe from his client! The judge, far from rattled, merely insisted that the matter be promptly be investigated so the business of delivering justice could proceed, unimpeded! It turned out that the accusation was baseless as the innocence of the judge was firmly established beyond doubts.

    Here is the twist: the same counsel, whose mouth spewed the gibberish  would go on to request that the judge recuse himself, since his (the counsel’s) travesty, already deemed unpardonable, would not allow the hapless judge to dispense justice without bias! Talk of a sample of how to be a minister in the temple of justice, the Nigerian way!

    Let me close with the words of the ancient proverb – physician heal thyself! Seems to me that this particular physician, being far too gone, is unlikely to be of use to anyone let alone the society, anytime soon!

  • NBA’s haunted Enugu conference

    NBA’s haunted Enugu conference

    The haunted 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual conference during which a group of privileged elites tried to assault our sensibilities ended in Enugu last week. We have all come to terms that law by this privileged few is the law of society. And if as George Orwell said ‘we are equal but some are more equal than others”, it is our sad fate we can never be equal before the law.

    And I guess that was why Plato concluded that human law are like spiders’ web which catches the small flies but the great break through. And nearer home here, no one captures this better than the Sultan of Sokoto who in his keynote address, warned the gathering of our privileged lawyers against “the creeping commercialization of justice in Nigeria”, without forgetting to let those serving themselves while pretending to serve us that  “Today, justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor are becoming victims of this kind of justice, while the rich commit all manner of crime and walk the streets scot-free.”

    Lawyers in Nigeria as elsewhere in the world are fortune-seekers. And it is not their fault that they are often assigned the ignoble role of perpetuating injustice. But what often makes the difference as Itse Sagay once pointed out in all societies are the few noble men among those destined by virtue of their profession to perform ignoble role. Fortunately for us here, unlike the current leadership of NBA that behaves like the unthinking ‘obidients’, using the media to intimidate those who pointed out their shameful behaviour, it has not always been like this. Our judiciary which had performed creditably well at home and at the international level was once the envy of our African brothers.

    There was indeed a golden era of the Nigerian judiciary when the judiciary was truly the last hope of the common man. Itse Sagay in a recent lecture reminded us of the era of fearless judges like Kayode Eso,Chukwunweike Idigbe, Chukwudifu Oputa, Mohammed Bello and it is not too long ago we had Rotimi Williams (Timi the Law), Gani Fawehinmi and Bola Ige who would proudly describe himself as akoni ni iwaju adajo (the fearless one before a judge).

    This is why informed Nigerians felt offended when senior lawyers without character who are answerable to none and as representative of the judiciary which unlike the executive and legislature that periodically test their legitimacy, pretend they are working for the interest of Nigerians. Lawyers work for none but themselves. Chief Kehinde Sofola, a second republic attorney-general and one tine vice president of Body of Benchers  told Nigerians a long time ago that “the primary duty of the judiciary is to protect the judiciary”.

    Few Nigerians are therefore impressed when the Nigeria Bar Association, haunted by the huge baggage it carried, finally settled down for their annual conference in Enugu, Anambra State, from August 22 – 29, hiding its head in the sand like an ostrich, thinking no one sees it.

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    What set this year’s event apart from the 2023 conference during which President Tinubu gave an enthralling welcome speech in which he called on members of the legal profession and other Nigerians alike, to commit to “a change of mind, a change of attitude and a change of approach to governance” in order to exploit our great potentials for the benefit of the people, was open partisanship and anti-Tinubu sentiments by ‘Obidients sympathisers including Oby Ezekwesili who didn’t believe the 2023 election had been won and lost.  There was also one of the moderators at the conference, Seun Okinbaloye who inadvertently disclosed where his political sympathy lies when he unprofessionally asked his audience three leading questions as to whether their lives are better today than it was in 2023.

    NBA was haunted by the burden it carried to the Enugu conference. Sim Fubara who in attempt to fight off the malicious influence of his godfather decided to wage war against anyone close to his estranged godfather, Osigwe and his NBA, perhaps because of the un-receipted and unbudgeted N300m  that had changed hands, decided to side with Fubara.

    When Fubara in his blind fury sacked and replaced  Rivers Traditional Rulers Council chairman, Sergeant Awuse, embraced a three-man legislature that vetted his budget and screened his cabinet and local government caretaker chairmen, allegedly masterminded the torching of the state House of Assembly in an effort to avoid impeachment, and disobeyed court pronouncements, Osigwe and his NBA kept their peace. They however woke up following the Supreme Court declaration that there was no government in Rivers and the federal government claiming to avoid possible chaos that could follow Fubara’s impeachment by a vindictive House of Assembly whose salary had been withheld for two years, declared a state of emergency and suspended the warring parties.

    Osigwe without restraint and without telling us in what capacity since he was not a party to the dispute, issued a press statement, declaring that “The constitution does not empower the president to unilaterally remove or replace elected officials—such actions amount to an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s federal structure”.

    He similarly did not wait for the National Assembly whose stamp all stakeholders agreed was needed to legitimize the president’s action before holding a press conference.  The NBA president only increased his visit to different media houses to declare that “the purported removal of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is unconstitutional, unlawful, and a dangerous affront to our nation’s democracy”, long after the National Assembly had upheld the position of the president

    In what many saw as lack of tact even while scandalously fighting their unfinished ‘obidient’s battle’ in the name of NBA, Osigwe and his  executive unilaterally moved the venue of the conference from Rivers to Enugu, thereby depriving Rivers the benefits of hosting the conference. Naturally, the administrator of Rivers asked Osigwe and his organizing committee to refund Rivers’ N300m but our men of ‘noble profession’ refused insisting the money was a gift.

    Instead of doing the most honourable thing, the NBA resorted to media war where untrained news anchors of some TV channels were asking ‘what is N300m compared to what it cost NBA to host their conference’?” For asking for Rivers State money, Osigwe and NBA media meddlers descended on the sole administrator, questioning the legality of his appointment, of his actions and labelling him a threat to democracy. Osigwe and his NBA media handlers told us they were driven by patriotism as if we don’t know “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrels”

    The intervention of the president, Public Interest Lawyers League, Abdul Mahmud who issued a press statement saying Osigwe’s decision was “not only disgraceful but speaks to the organisation’s rot” adding that “the NBA cannot claim to be a watchdog of public morality while engaging in conduct so thoroughly devoid of the very standards it seeks to impose on others”, did not bring back  Rivers N300m.

    Sadly, it was this baggage NBA and its leadership carried to their dispirited Enugu conference last week.

    It will appear our senior lawyers who are accountable to only themselves are the bane of Nigeria judiciary. There are no doubt senior lawyers who would deliberately receive N300m from a sub-national government we all criticize for not doing enough for the people and their media enablers whose news anchors unprofessionally intimidate guests are men without character. And men without character according to Aristotle are the greatest threat to democracy.

    I have not heard a word of condemnation from Osigwe’s crusading NBA against Abubakar Malami, a senior lawyer and attorney general who but for the Head of Service would have smuggled an indicted civil servant into the bureaucracy through the back door or but for Justice Salami’s insider probe, sacrificed the career of a very resourceful  former EFCC Chairman.

    Why are men of many words, a euphemism for lying, called upon by virtue of their profession to perform ignoble role including taking N300m, be humble enough to understand that those who accept the law of the rich as the law of the poor to avert anarchy in society are not half-wits?

  • NBA sues over stalled promotion of police lawyers

    NBA sues over stalled promotion of police lawyers

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has taken legal action against the Police Service Commission and other key authorities over what it described as the “unjust and undue delay” in the conversion and promotion of legal practitioners serving in the Nigeria Police Force to the specialist cadre.

    The suit, filed on September 3, 2025, at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, and marked NICN/ABJ/264/2025, seeks an order compelling the defendants to upgrade all junior police officers who are qualified lawyers to the substantive rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). 

    The NBA argued that the failure to implement the provisions of the Nigeria Police Force (Establishment) Act 2020 and Force Order 137 of the Ratified Force Order 2013 has left police lawyers stranded in junior ranks for years despite performing full legal duties.

    According to the NBA, while professionals in other fields such as medicine, engineering, aviation, and accountancy enjoy automatic conversion to specialist cadre with corresponding promotions, police officers who become lawyers have been excluded from this statutory entitlement. 

    Many, the association said, remain at the ranks of Inspector, Sergeant, and Corporal while appearing daily in courts to prosecute and defend cases for the Force.

    Read Also: NBA sues police over tinted glass permit policy

     Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, Chairman of the NBA’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), in a statement, said:  “This is an assault on the dignity and nobility of the legal profession, reeks of double standards, and can no longer in good conscience be condoned.”

    The NBA explained that while some officers enlisted in the Police Force already qualified as lawyers, others were called to the Bar with the Force’s approval during service. In both cases, Section 18(9) and (11) of the Police Act mandates their conversion to the legal cadre — a provision the association insists has been consistently flouted.

    Despite several interventions by past NBA leaderships, the matter remained unresolved. The association noted that police lawyers continue to be deployed for legal duties without the formal recognition of their professional status, a practice it said violates the Rules of Professional Conduct.

    The suit was instituted through SPIDEL’s Public Interest Litigation Committee, chaired by Mr. Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, SAN. 

    The NBA called on the Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, and other defendants to respect the judicial process, halt further harassment of police lawyers, and await the court’s decision.

  • NBA sues police over tinted glass permit policy

    NBA sues police over tinted glass permit policy

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has taken the Nigeria Police Force to court over the controversial tinted glass permit policy introduced earlier this year by the Inspector-General of Police.

    At its pre-conference National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on August 23 in Enugu, the NBA resolved to challenge the legality of the policy, which mandates motorists to obtain annual permits for tinted vehicle glasses through a digital portal operated by a private vendor.

    The policy, announced in April 2025, directed applicants to process permits via possap.gov.ng and pay stipulated fees. 

    While enforcement was originally scheduled to begin on June 1, 2025, it was later shifted to October 2. Despite the extension, reports of harassment and extortion of motorists by police officers citing the policy have continued across the country.

    Critics, including the NBA, maintain that the directive violates citizens’ fundamental rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement, and property as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution. 

    The Association further questioned the legal foundation of the initiative, noting that it relies on the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act, a 1991 military decree, which may not withstand the constitutional requirement of laws “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.”

    Concerns have also been raised over the financial structure of the scheme.

    Read Also: Enugu 2025: Before NBA leaves coal city

    Payments for the permits are reportedly being directed into a private account belonging to Parkway Projects, rather than into the Federation Account or the Treasury Single Account (TSA), sparking questions about transparency and accountability.

    In line with its NEC resolution, the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja. 

    The case, instituted on September 2 under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025, lists the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA as claimant and the Inspector-General of Police as defendant.

    Confirming the development, Professor Paul Ananaba, SAN, Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, said the association would pursue the litigation to its logical conclusion. 

    He urged the police to respect the judicial process and suspend enforcement of the policy pending the court’s decision.

    The case has not yet been assigned to a judge.

  • Legal giants, experts: how lawyers can stand tall

    Legal giants, experts: how lawyers can stand tall

    “Stand out, stand tall” was the theme of the 65th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during which eminent personalities and legal luminaries dissected numerous sub-themes at the plenary and breakout sessions. Deputy News Editor JOSEPH JIBUEZE and DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA bring highlights of an eventful week.

    “Stand out, stand tall” was more than just a theme for the 65th Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    It was a rallying cry for a profession long accused of shrinking in the face of national crises.

    For years, critics have said the Bar has lost its voice as a pressure group, failing to hold governments accountable or defend the rule of law with the vigour of the past.

    Perhaps that realisation shaped the mood in Enugu, where thousands of lawyers gathered after the NBA moved the event from Port Harcourt in protest at the political crisis in Rivers State.

    The relocation itself was symbolic — an assertion that the Bar would not look away from injustice.

    Yet, the host, Enugu State government, has also been accused of abusing the rule of law over the prolonged detention of Bright Ngene, a lawyer and Labour Party lawmaker-elect.

    NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), did not mince words.

    “As lawyers, we cannot afford to be neutral at a time when Nigeria grapples with economic, socio-political, and institutional challenges.

    “From independence to the defence of democracy, lawyers have always been at the frontlines of progress. Now, we must lead again,” he declared.

    For Osigwe, leadership means driving conversations on economic inclusion, legal reforms, and innovation — not spectating.

    “No economy ever stood tall on imported effort,” he added, urging lawyers to lead with courage and vision in every courtroom, boardroom, and chamber.

    Malema’s call for African unity

    The opening session, chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, featured a keynote by Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

    Malema electrified the hall with his trademark blend of radicalism and pan-African idealism.

    “Africa must refuse to be subjects of others. We must break free from subjugation, pool our resources, and stop exporting what we can process here,” he charged.

    His message was simple: Nigeria and South Africa must industrialise together, build factories together, and lead the continent’s transformation.

    Malema urged leaders to discard colonial borders, work towards a borderless Africa, and regulate foreign loans that mortgage future generations.

    “Our salvation lies here, in Lagos and Johannesburg, Abuja and Pretoria, in the hands of Africans who refuse to be divided,” he said, drawing loud applause.

    Setting forth at dawn

    The first session, moderated by actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, carried a metaphorical title: Setting Forth at Dawn. It captured the need to act boldly in uncertain times.

    Mrs. Mia Essien (SAN) reminded lawyers that mediocrity has no place in a digital age. Success, she said, often starts quietly — long before the world notices.

    Abdul Muhammed (SAN) emphasised that technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help lawyers do more with less, though he warned against treating AI as a substitute for human intelligence.

    LawPavilion’s CEO, Ope Olugasa, unveiled a new AI platform for legal research, drafting, and document review.

    While many in the audience were intrigued, older practitioners expressed concern about the steep learning curve.

    Yet the consensus was clear: the future of the law will be tech-driven, and Nigerian lawyers cannot afford to be left behind.

    Politics, economics and accountability

    The first plenary, moderated by broadcast journalist/lawyer Seun Okinbaloye, brought together Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and business lawyer George Etomi.

    Read Also: Terror financing, others: CJN Kekere-Ekun assures of Judiciary’s support for Nigeria’s exit from FATF grey list

    Dr. Ezekwesili pulled no punches. She accused lawyers of enabling Nigeria’s political decay by failing to challenge mismanagement.

    She argued that poorly implemented reforms have worsened hardship for the poor. Lawyers, she insisted, must demand accountability from political elites.

    Rights, security and the rule of law

    One of the most heated sessions focused on Strengthening Citizens’ Rights.

    It featured an array of heavyweights: Chief of Defence Staff Gen. C.G. Musa, senior police and DSS officials, Prof. Tony Ojukwu of the National Human Rights Commission, and legal titans like Femi Falana (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and Emeka Ngige (SAN).

    Gen. Musa struck a conciliatory tone, condemning extrajudicial killings and torture while pledging the Armed Forces’ commitment to civil liberties.

    He acknowledged, however, that insurgency and separatist threats continued to test the balance between rights and security.

    The IG, represented by the Director of Legal Services, Assistant Inspector-General Ohiozoba Ehiede, highlighted reforms in the Police Act 2020, including guarantees against arbitrary arrests and rights to legal representation.

    He urged citizens to report any police officer who demands “mobilisation” before investigating a case.

    “The Police Act has prohibited the police from arresting any person based on a civil wrong, and we must comply.

    “The Act also provides that there will be no arrests in lieu of another person.

    “So, you cannot arrest a husband for an offence committed by his wife,” he said

    On demands for money before investigation, the IG said: “The issue of mobilisation is unknown to the Nigerian police.”

    The comment generated a huge uproar from the incredulous lawyers.

    The IG said anyone asked to pay before investigation should report to the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU).

    “File a complaint if it ever arises,” he said.

    DSS DG, represented by FCT Director of Security, U. M. Dauda, admitted to occasional abuses but cautioned against “absolute freedom,” which he equated with anarchy.

    Falana reminded the audience that families must be notified immediately upon arrest, while Ozekhome blasted the misuse of “national security” as a cloak for oppression. Ngige urged expedited hearings for detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.

    Prof. Ojukwu stressed that security must also include economic and social dimensions.

    Audience interventions were equally passionate, with calls for gender inclusion, an end to police “mobilisation fees,” and greater accountability in military barracks.

    The consensus: without respect for rights, security itself collapses.

    CJ seeks special tribunals

    Federal High Court Chief Judge, John Tsoho, represented by Justice Mabel T. Segun-Bello of the Enugu Division, proposed a tribunal model for the adjudication of specific matters to lighten the work of judges.

    He said: “I am not saying that tribunals should take the work of judges.

    “But what I am saying is that the tribunal model, which is a specialised or quasi-judicial forum for resolving specific types of disputes, should be considered.

    “Most judges are overburdened, so they are quick to adjourn cases on the slightest mistake.

    “A judge’s work starts when he is done sitting in court hearing cases – from signing orders to writing rulings and judgments.

    “These specialised tribunals can take specialised cases with informal procedures compared to the traditional courts.

    “These can include immigration tribunals, intellectual property tribunals, environmental tribunals, etc. We have similar models around the world.”

    Justice Tsoho described inefficiency as the “greatest sponsor of corruption”.

    “If a system is not working efficiently, you have provided a feeding field for corruption to thrive,” he said.

    Maritime security and the blue economy

    Another session examined maritime security in the Niger Delta.

    With piracy at historic lows, attention has shifted to unlocking the “blue economy.”

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) showcased new projects and partnerships, while urging legal reforms to secure waterways.

    Speakers pressed for special maritime courts to speed up cases against oil thieves and vandals.

    Senator Dino Melaye demanded greater accountability within the NDDC, warning that mismanagement could squander the region’s vast potential.

    Building the future firm

    How should Nigerian law firms prepare for global competition?

    That was the focus of another lively breakout.

    Tominiyi Owolabi compared Nigerian firms with counterparts in South Africa, the US, and UK, stressing that innovation, branding, and technology are indispensable.

    Gladys Obade urged firms to seek global rankings and visibility, while Adeola Adedipe (SAN) pressed for better structures, partnerships, and minimum billing thresholds.

    The conversation was frank: too many lawyers still undervalue themselves, offering free consultations or undercharging.

    For Dr. Agada Elachi (SAN), this practice “undermines the profession and its sustainability.”

     ADR in focus: beyond litigation

    The passage of the Arbitration and Mediation Act (AMA) 2023 gave fresh energy to discussions on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

    Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) explained how the Act introduces emergency arbitrators, interim protections, and stronger enforcement of awards.

    But he acknowledged persistent challenges — from unarbitrable matters like tax and divorce, to poor award writing and high training costs.

    Justice Enenche Eleojo and other panellists agreed that ADR must complement, not replace, litigation.

    They cited cases like Mwana v FCDA, which dragged for 18 years, as proof of why faster, flexible mechanisms are essential. The future of justice, they said, lies in integrating ADR into mainstream court processes.

    A glimpse into the NBA’s future

    Day Six featured a forward-looking plenary, A Peep into the Future of the NBA.

    Panelists including Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), Lateef Akangbe (SAN), Prof. Foluke Dada, Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, and John Aikpokpo Martins, debated what the Bar must become.

    Akinboro argued that the NBA must prioritise justice delivery and act as a check on the government.

    Akangbe lamented the association’s drift into commercialisation, urging more focus on member welfare, continuous learning, and tech adoption.

    Badejo-Okusanya stressed mentorship and career development, particularly for young lawyers.

    Prof. Dada called for merit-based appointments and leadership continuity, criticising constant leadership resets that derail progress.

    The mood was clear: the NBA must modernise, professionalise, and reconnect with its members if it hopes to stand tall in the years ahead.

    Children behind bars: UNICEF session

    One of the most sobering sessions, organised with UNICEF, spotlighted the plight of detained children.

    Dr. Uju Agomoh revealed that over 133,000 children remain incarcerated, many awaiting trial.

    She called for legislative intervention on where young persons who come in conflict with the law are kept, descrying the few foster homes in Nigeria.

    “Seventy per cent of young ones in adult facilities are not convicts. Some had their ages exaggerated. Some are threatened to lie about their ages,” she said.

    Panelists called for specialised child-justice lawyers, improved correctional facilities, and alignment with international standards,

    “The law must protect the most vulnerable,” said Nkiru Maduechesi, pointing to the Child Rights Act as the roadmap.

     Access to justice and accountability

    Another breakout probed access to justice and accountability.

    Speakers lamented underfunded legal aid, overburdened judges, and the politicisation of the legal profession.

    Deji Adeyanju warned that Nigeria’s appellate courts were drowning under impossible caseloads.

    CP Nnayi Etan called for a redesigned police architecture, while panellists stressed the importance of mapping detention centres nationwide and providing incentives for pro bono work.

    The session concluded with a sober reflection: justice remains elusive for millions, and the NBA must do more to bridge the gap.

    A participants perspective

    A former NBA Vice President, Dr. Monday Ubani, shared his insights from the conference.

    He stated: “The conference was one of the most remarkable in recent years, an event that combined intellectual depth, social vibrancy, and memorable hospitality…

    “Across plenary and breakout sessions, delegates engaged with a wide range of issues: human rights, good governance, access to justice, insecurity, gender inclusiveness, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and the justiciability of socio-economic rights.

    “These subjects were handled with maturity and intellectual rigour, leaving participants both enlightened and inspired.

    “Governor Peter Mbah and his team deserve commendation for excellent hospitality. Security was tight, logistics well managed, and the social environment delightful.

    “The famous ‘mammy market’ buzzed with energy, offering an endless array of delicacies – abacha, ugba, ukwa, okpa, ofe onugbu, uha soup, akidi with fish, and an assortment of local drinks.

    “Delegates from all regions of Nigeria immersed themselves fully in the city’s warmth and culture.

    “Despite the successes, there were concerns. Some delegates questioned the prominence given to new wigs and politically exposed personalities such as Dino Melaye, Adeyanju, and Osita Chidoka.

    “This, they argued, disregarded the profession’s long-standing respect for seniority. Others suggested the theme, ‘“Standing Out, Standing Tall,’ may have inspired such choices.

    “Whatever the reason/s, seniority at the bar should be respected by future planners, I plead.

    “In addition, hotel and transport providers sharply increased prices to exploit the influx of visitors, leaving participants with little option but to comply.

    “Amid the excitement of the conference, one sombre issue demands urgent attention – the plight of Bright Ngene, a lawyer and lawmaker-elect for Enugu South Urban Constituency, who has remained incarcerated under questionable circumstances.

    “His appeal against conviction has suffered delays, though the Attorney-General of Enugu State, Mr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN-designate), assured me that the matter has now been assigned by the Chief Judge and will likely be heard immediately after the vacation.

    “Still, I plead with Governor Mbah to demonstrate statesmanship by exercising the power of clemency.

    “Releasing Barr. Ngene will not only affirm justice but also allow him to take his rightful place in the State House of Assembly, where his constituents – who reaffirmed their mandate in the recent rerun election – await his representation.

    “Such a step will earn the Governor enduring political goodwill and stand as a rare example of magnanimity in Nigerian politics.

    “Overall, the 2025 NBA Conference in Enugu was a resounding success. It brought together colleagues from every region, many attending to broaden their horizons and others to see firsthand that the Southeast is far safer and more hospitable than sometimes portrayed in the media.”

    Praising the NBA leadership and the organising committees, Ubani added: “Yet, for the NBA to meet global benchmarks, we must look back to the 2019 Lagos Conference under A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, which was coordinated by Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN. That event – despite its cost, remains the closest to the International Bar Association’s standards and should serve as a guide for the future.

    “The Enugu 2025 Conference was rich in thrills, lessons, and camaraderie. But its ultimate legacy will, in part, depend on how swiftly the case of Barr. Bright Ngene is resolved. Justice delayed for him is justice denied for his people.

    “As we look forward to Rivers State hosting the next edition in 2026, let us build on this year’s achievements, correct the lapses, and continue to make the NBA a model of professional excellence and justice.”