The 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference in Enugu was disrupted on Monday by a peaceful protest demanding the release of Hon. Bright Ngene, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly representing Enugu South Urban Constituency.
Ngene, a lawyer and lawmaker elected under the Labour Party (LP), is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence handed down by an Enugu Magistrate Court.
His supporters claim the conviction stems from a politically motivated case that resurfaced shortly after his election.
Protesters, largely from his constituency, carried placards with messages such as “Free Bright Ngene, a political prisoner of conscience”, “NBA, speak for the voiceless,” “Enugu judiciary must be independent,” “Let Bright Ngene represent his people,” and “Say no to judicial persecution” among others.
Addressing journalists at the protest, community leader Mr. Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s incarceration as a blatant miscarriage of justice.
According to him, the charges were weak, the trial was rushed and the appeal process has been deliberately stalled.
“Since July 28, 2024, Hon. Bright Ngene has been unjustly detained,” Kachukwu said.
“Two judges have already recused themselves from handling the appeal and the Chief Judge has yet to reassign the case. It appears there’s a deliberate effort to silence a freely elected representative.”
He added that despite being behind bars, Ngene won a re-run election held on August 16, 2025, further demonstrating public support for him.
Kachukwu urged the NBA, senior lawyers and human rights advocates to intervene, naming prominent legal figures such as Femi Falana (SAN) and Barrister Monday Ubani as already aware of the situation.
“We are not avoiding the courts, we want the law to take its course,” Kachukwu emphasized.
“But keeping a man in prison indefinitely without allowing the appeal to proceed is a travesty.”
Although security prevented the protesters from entering the main venue of the NBA Conference at the International Conference Center, they staged a peaceful demonstration outside before dispersing.
