Protests rock NBA conference in Enugu over jailed lawmaker Bright Ngene

The ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual conference in Enugu took a dramatic turn on Monday as protesters gathered outside the venue, demanding the immediate release of Hon. Bright Ngene, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly and a practising lawyer.

Ngene, who represents Enugu South Urban Constituency under the Labour Party, is serving a seven-year prison sentence handed down by a magistrate court in connection with a community dispute.

His supporters, however, claim the conviction is politically motivated and a miscarriage of justice.

Protesters carried placards bearing messages such as “Release Bar. Bright Ngene Now — A Political Prisoner of Conscience” and “NBA Please Save Our Democracy.”

They accused the state judiciary of obstructing efforts to appeal his conviction, noting that at least two judges had recused themselves while the case has remained unassigned at the state High Court.

Speaking to journalists, protest leader Mr. Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s detention since July 2024 as a “gross injustice,” alleging that due process was not followed during his trial.

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“We are calling on the NBA leadership and senior lawyers attending this conference to rise to the occasion,” Kachukwu said. “Our colleague is being victimised for political reasons, and the legal system is being manipulated to silence him.”

Security personnel stationed at the International Conference Centre, venue of the NBA event, blocked demonstrators from entering the premises.

However, the protest remained peaceful as the group staged a rally around the perimeter before dispersing.

The NBA has yet to issue an official statement regarding the protest or Ngene’s case, though pressure is mounting on the legal community to respond to the growing concerns over judicial independence and political interference in legal proceedings.