The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held its Pre-Conference Meeting on Saturday, 23rd August 2025 at the Multipurpose Hall of the International Conference Centre, Enugu, Enugu State. The meeting, which commenced at 3:23 p.m., was presided over by the President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, with distinguished NEC members, Branch delegates, past Presidents, eminent members of the Inner and Utter Bar, and representatives of fraternal bar associations in attendance.
The meeting deliberated extensively on issues bordering on governance of the Association, security, the rule of law, human rights, continuing legal education, professional ethics, and preparations for the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).
After exhaustive deliberations, NEC issued the following communiqué:
1. ON THE RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
• NEC reaffirmed the NBA’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, constitutional democracy, accountability, and due process in governance.
• NEC condemned rising acts of intolerance and disregard for the law by political office holders and reiterated the duty of the NBA to speak truth to power and safeguard constitutional order.
2. ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND SECURITY
• NEC condemned in strong terms increasing cases of brutality by security agencies, including the inhuman treatment of a female passenger on an Ibom Air flight and the assault on a youth corps member in Anambra State.
• NEC resolved that the NBA would henceforth pursue public interest litigation to secure remedies for victims of human rights abuses rather than relying solely on press statements.
• NEC expressed concern about the rise of non-state policing structures and insisted that any security architecture, including State policing, must be subjected to strict accountability, regulation, and oversight to protect citizens ’rights.
3. ON THE SCREENING OF SAN ASPIRANTS
• NEC vehemently rejected the DSS screening of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) aspirants, describing it as degrading, extraneous, and inconsistent with Rule 23 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• NEC resolved to advocate for a comprehensive review of the Legal Practitioners ’Privileges Committee (LPPC) guidelines to safeguard the dignity, independence, and integrity of the process.
4. ON POLICE REGULATORY POLICIES
• NEC condemned the Nigerian Police tinted glass permit policy as unconstitutional, oppressive, and a tool for extortion.
• NEC resolved to institute legal action to challenge the policy in court.
• NEC also condemned the Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) licensing policy of the Police as unconstitutional and mandated SPIDEL to take urgent legal steps to protect citizens ’rights.
5. ON CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (ICLE) & CAPACITY BUILDING
• NEC reiterated that Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) are mandatory under Rule 11 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• NEC urged all branches to intensify ICLE/CPD programmes, particularly in emerging areas of law such as technology, environmental law, and international trade law, to ensure the NBA remains globally competitive.
6. ON 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE (AGC)
• NEC commended the AGC Planning Committee led by Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, for its diligence and thorough preparation, particularly in securing assurances of safety for conferees and ensuring logistics for delegate participation.
• NEC urged improved coordination on accommodation and transportation logistics for future conferences to prevent delegates from being stranded.
• NEC applauded the efforts of the Enugu branches and the Government of Enugu State for their hospitality and partnership.
7. ON NBA TRUSTEES & LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
• NEC ratified the extension of the tenure of outgoing NBA Trustees to ensure continuity and completion of ongoing initiatives. NEC also rectified the nomination of Prof. Peter Terkaa Akper, SAN OFR as trustee to replace the late Yunus Ustaz, SAN.
• NEC welcomed newly elected NEC members, Branch Chairmen and Secretaries, charging them to demonstrate discipline, humility, and accountability in leadership.
• NEC reiterated that the NBA President remains the official spokesperson of the Bar and enjoined all officers to act in unison in strengthening the Association’s institutional credibility.
8. ON NBA ELECTIONS
• NEC was informed that the Mid West Bar Forum had resolved through a letter that the next NBA President should emerge from the Southwest.
• NEC emphasized that NBA elections must be guided by integrity, prudence, inclusivity, and devoid of acrimony or undue financial inducement, serving as a model of democratic governance.
CONCLUSION
NEC concluded by urging members of the Bar to remain steadfast in upholding professional ethics, protecting human rights, and defending constitutional democracy. Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to work collectively towards the success of the 2025 Annual General Conference and the continued strengthening of the Nigerian Bar Association as a beacon of justice, integrity, and the rule of law.
Issued this 23rd day of August, 2025.
E-signed:
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
President.
Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara
General Secretary
Kindly find attached below the link to download the communiqué.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1btBoybKC9qWZtRPxF1ryOHwNYoX1s_cB/view?usp=sharing
 MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) HELD AT THE MULTIPURPOSE HALL, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE, ON SATURDAY, 23RD AUGUST 2025.){kind=link}
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