The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has raised concerns over the worsening security situation in the South-East, citing widespread illegal detentions, extrajudicial killings, and human rights violations as major contributors to the breakdown of law and order in the region.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in Enugu, Osigwe condemned the alarming trend, emphasizing the urgent need for judicial reforms to prevent further deterioration.
“The issue of security in the South-East must be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” he stated. “Many communities in the region no longer have functioning local governments, police stations have been destroyed, and cases of kidnappings for ransom have become the norm. The absence of effective governance has fueled lawlessness, leaving residents to fend for themselves in the face of escalating insecurity.”
One of the most pressing concerns, according to Osigwe, is the practice of magistrates issuing remand orders without proper jurisdiction, resulting in prolonged and unjust detentions. He lamented that over 68 percent of prison inmates in Nigeria are awaiting trial, with many spending more time behind bars than the maximum sentences they would have received if convicted.
“We strongly condemn a system where individuals are held in remand indefinitely,” Osigwe asserted. “We have called on Chief Judges across the region to ensure that magistrates do not issue remand orders without setting a return date for review. No individual should be detained without a fair trial or access to justice. Magistrates who lack jurisdiction should not have the power to issue indefinite remand orders.”
He urged Chief Judges in the South-East to take decisive action by instructing magistrates to refrain from remanding suspects without formally charging them in court. He also encouraged victims of unlawful detention to seek legal redress, assuring that the NBA would support them through pro bono legal services.
“Naturally, those unlawfully detained should have the right to sue the state for wrongful incarceration,” he said. “While the NBA cannot directly incite individuals to take legal action, our members are more than willing to offer free legal representation to victims who seek justice.”
Beyond addressing unlawful detentions, Osigwe reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to restoring peace and security in the South-East through strategic engagements with relevant authorities, legal advocacy, and institutional reforms.
“Our goal is to ensure that justice is upheld and that the judiciary plays its role in protecting the rights of citizens,” he concluded.
The NBA’s call for reform comes at a critical time, as concerns over security and human rights abuses continue to dominate discussions in the region. Many observers believe that swift judicial intervention could help curb lawlessness and restore public confidence in the legal system.
