The second day of the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association annual conference in Enugu was on Monday disrupted by protests demanding the release of a Labour Party lawmaker in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Bright Ngene.
Ngene, who represents Enugu South Urban Constituency, is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence handed down by a magistrate’s court in connection with a community dispute.
His supporters, however, insist the conviction was politically motivated.
Protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Release Bar. Bright Ngene Now, a Political Prisoner of Conscience” and “NBA, Please Save Our Democracy”, accused the state judiciary of stalling his appeal.
They claimed that at least two judges had recused themselves while the case remained unassigned at the state High Court.
Speaking to journalists, the protest leader, Benedict Kachukwu, described Ngene’s incarceration since July 2024 as unjust.
“Due process was not followed in his trial. We appeal to the NBA and senior lawyers at this conference to intervene and ensure justice is done,” he said.
Security operatives, however, barred the demonstrators from entering the International Conference Centre, venue of the NBA conference.
Despite this, they staged a peaceful protest around the premises before dispersing.
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