The Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) annual conference in Enugu faced disruption on its second day as protests erupted, demanding the release of Bright Ngene, a Labour Party lawmaker from the Enugu State House of Assembly. Ngene is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence, a conviction his supporters decry as politically motivated.
Demonstrators, bearing placards with messages such as “Release Bar. Bright Ngene Now, a Political Prisoner of Conscience” and “NBA, Please Save Our Democracy,” voiced their concerns over the alleged stagnation of Ngene’s appeal within the state judiciary. They claim judicial recusals have led to the case remaining unassigned at the state High Court.
Benedict Kachukwu, the protest leader, conveyed to journalists that Ngene’s imprisonment since July 2024 was unjust, alleging procedural irregularities during his trial. He appealed to the NBA and senior lawyers attending the conference to intervene and ensure justice prevails.
Security personnel prevented the protesters from entering the International Conference Centre, the conference venue. Nonetheless, the demonstrators conducted a peaceful protest around the premises before dispersing.
