Rule of law takes centre stage at NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt

The 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has opened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with prominent legal and political figures calling for stronger judicial institutions, greater respect for the rule of law and the protection of democracy.

The conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” was declared open by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who underscored the critical role of the judiciary in a democratic society.

Fubara described the courts as more than venues for dispute resolution, saying they should remain a refuge for ordinary citizens seeking justice and urged judges to consider the wider societal implications of their decisions and avoid becoming mere conformists in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

According to him, public confidence in the judiciary would be enhanced when judges demonstrate the courage to hold governments, including governors, accountable. He also pledged his administration’s readiness to partner with the NBA in strengthening the rule of law in Rivers State.

In his speech, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, explained why the association returned its annual conference to Port Harcourt after initially selecting the city to host the 2025 edition.

Osigwe recalled that the NBA had shelved the 2025 conference in the city following the declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of a sole administrator in Rivers State.

He said the association had considered it inappropriate to hold its conference there under what it regarded as circumstances inconsistent with democratic governance, but promised to return once democracy was restored.

According to him, the reinstatement of the governor provided the opportunity for the NBA to fulfil that commitment.

Reflecting on the conference theme, Osigwe expressed concern that, 66 years after independence, Nigeria had yet to realise its potential as a beacon for Africa.

He lamented that the country’s diversity, which ought to have been a source of strength, had increasingly been undermined by tribalism and parochial interests.

The NBA president, however, maintained that Nigeria still had the capacity to achieve the aspirations of its founding fathers and challenged lawyers to push beyond their limitations and comfort zones, stressing that the legal profession must move beyond criticism to offer constructive solutions to government.

Osigwe reaffirmed the profession’s responsibility to society, insisting that justice must remain central to governance and that the rule of law must serve as the foundation of the Nigerian state.

Delivering the keynote address, former Liberian President, George Weah, said the theme, “Beyond Limits,” should be regarded as a way of life rather than a mere slogan.

Weah stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and a fearless legal profession in sustaining democracy, warning that democratic institutions could be undermined not only through military intervention or refusal to transfer power but also through the weakening of judicial institutions.

He noted that democracy did not end with elections but was tested every day through the strength and independence of state institutions.

According to him, democracy cannot be sustained by strong individuals but by strong institutions, while the rule of law guarantees that citizens’ rights are protected regardless of who occupies political office.

Weah also warned against democratic governments that undermine institutions through corruption, budget manipulation and pressure on judges.

He observed that Africa was not lacking in talented and brilliant people but in the infrastructure and institutions required to harness that potential.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, described the conference theme as timely and thought-provoking, saying it provided an opportunity for the legal profession to examine the boundaries within which it operates and the ethical principles guiding both the Bar and the Bench.

She said those boundaries must continually be reviewed, particularly as technology and artificial intelligence continue to transform legal research and raise new questions for the justice system.

Kekere-Ekun disclosed that the Supreme Court had introduced new procedures aimed at modernising the administration of justice, expressing hope that the court’s efforts would encourage other courts to embrace technology.

She further stressed the need for judicial independence and an unwavering commitment to ethics, noting that the ultimate measure of the justice system should be the experience of citizens who seek redress before the courts.

Also speaking, the President of the Uganda Law Society, Isaac Semakade, advocated respect for individual freedoms and the dignity of persons accused of wrongdoing.

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He maintained that people should be free to live according to their choices provided their actions did not adversely affect others, while anyone accused of an offence must be guaranteed dignity and the right to a defence.

Representing the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Everest Okoro, said the conference theme reflected the courage, resilience and determination required to build a more secure Nigeria.

Okoro stressed that national security went beyond military operations, noting that it also depended on respect for the rule of law, access to justice and the protection of human rights.

He assured the legal profession that the Nigerian Army would continue to work with the Bar, the Bench and other institutions in pursuit of a more just and secure Nigeria.

The conference brings together legal practitioners, judges, political leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the challenges confronting Nigeria’s justice system, democracy and national development.