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Inioluwa Ogunleye
2 months ago
Overview
Tensions ran high today at the Nigerian Navy Dockyard as members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a rare public protest. The demonstration was aimed at demanding accountability from government institutions, respect for the rule of law, and better protection of lawyers’ rights.
Why the Lawyers Took to the Streets
Led by senior members of the Bar, protesters marched to the Navy Dockyard in the early hours to present a list of grievances. Among their demands were:
Respect for Legal Practice – An end to what they described as intimidation of legal practitioners by security operatives.
End Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions – Immediate release of members allegedly detained without due process.
Oversight and Accountability – Investigations into alleged rights violations by police, naval, and paramilitary officers.
Rule of Law and Independence of the Bar – A call for lawyers to be allowed to operate without interference from political or security institutions.
Statement from NBA Lagos President
The protest was led by Uchenna Akingbade, the recently inaugurated President of the Lagos Branch of the NBA and notably the first woman to hold the position. Addressing journalists, she said the association was compelled to act because of repeated violations against lawyers in the line of duty.
“We cannot allow intimidation and disregard for due process to become normalized. Our demand is simple: uphold the rule of law and respect the independence of the Bar,” Akingbade stated.
Navy’s Response and Next Steps
While the protest was largely peaceful, eyewitnesses reported that naval authorities received the NBA’s petition but made no immediate commitments. The NBA leadership has vowed to continue pressing its demands until concrete actions are taken.
This marks one of the first large-scale lawyers protects on Lagos in recent memory, signaling what many believe could be a new direction for the association under Akingbade’s leadership.
