The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has demanded that the Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, immediately reassign the appeal of detained Enugu South I State Constituency lawmaker, Bright Ngene, warning that continued inaction will trigger a boycott of the Chief Judge’s court.
The NBA, in a statement delivered on Friday by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), at the 17th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture in Enugu, said the appeal has been stalled due to the refusal of three Enugu State High Court judges to hear the matter, citing alleged interference.
Ngene, a Labour Party lawmaker, has been described by rights groups as a political prisoner following his incarceration over an alleged community development fund scandal.
He was sentenced to seven years by an Enugu South Magistrate’s Court in June 2024. Despite his imprisonment, Ngene reportedly won a rerun election against the candidate of Governor Peter Mbah last August.
Osigwe said the NBA has set a two-week deadline for the Chief Judge to assign Ngene’s appeal to a willing judge.
“If after two weeks nothing is done, the NBA in Enugu has been directed to boycott the Chief Judge’s court and file a petition against him. We are approaching this in stages,” he said.
The NBA president criticised the Chief Judge’s decision to recall Ngene’s case file on the very day lawyers appeared for a scheduled hearing, questioning the motives behind the action.
“Why would the Chief Judge recall the file without any record and deny the lawyers the opportunity to proceed? If he is unwilling, why not hear it himself?” Osigwe asked.
Describing judicial corruption as a grave threat to society, Osigwe said, “A madman with a cutlass can kill a few people and be restrained.
A corrupt judge destroys the moral foundation of society and causes incalculable damage.” He warned that continued political interference and bribery undermine public confidence in the judiciary, which he said is increasingly perceived as a system where justice can be bought.
Citing data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, Osigwe said public officials in Nigeria received an estimated N721 billion in bribes in 2023, with judges among the top recipients.
He called for the immediate suspension of any judicial officer facing credible corruption allegations and urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to strengthen disciplinary mechanisms.
The lecture, organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) to commemorate the late activist Ralph Opara, attracted lawyers and civil society figures who collectively called for reforms, transparency in judicial appointments, automated case assignment, and stronger oversight to restore credibility to Nigeria’s justice system.
Dr. Joseph Oteri, NAS President, described the lecture as a clarion call for citizens to confront judicial corruption.
Panelists included Joyce Chiamaka Iwejuo, Mrs. Chioma Umunna, Rev. Fr. John Okwoeze Odey, and Dr. Obum Arum, with sessions moderated by Uche Gabriel and Dr. Uche Maurice Maduemesi.
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