Tensions escalated today at the Nigerian Navy Dockyard as members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a rare public protest. The demonstration called for greater accountability from government institutions, adherence to the rule of law, and stronger protection of lawyers’ rights.
Led by senior members of the Bar, protesters marched to the Navy Dockyard in the early hours to submit a list of grievances. Key demands included:
Respect for Legal Practice – an end to what they described as harassment and intimidation of lawyers by security operatives.
End Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions – the immediate release of members allegedly detained without due process.
Investigations into Rights Violations – scrutiny of alleged abuses by police, naval, and paramilitary personnel.
Freedom for Lawyers to Operate Independently – ensuring legal practitioners can perform their duties without interference from political or security institutions.
The protest was led by Uchenna Akingbade, the newly inaugurated President of the Lagos Branch of the NBA and the first woman to hold the position. Speaking to journalists, she said the association felt compelled to act following repeated violations against lawyers in the course of their work.
“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 said.
Eyewitnesses reported that while the protest remained largely peaceful, naval authorities received the NBA’s petition but made no immediate commitments. The association’s leadership has pledged to continue pressing its demands until concrete actions are taken.
This protest marks one of the largest gatherings of lawyers in Lagos in recent memory, signaling a potentially new direction for the NBA under Akingbade’s leadership.
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