The second day of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual conference in Enugu was on Monday disrupted by protests demanding the release of Bright Ngene, a Labour Party lawmaker representing Enugu South Urban Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
Ngene is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence imposed by a magistrate’s court over a community dispute. His supporters, however, maintain that the conviction was politically motivated.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Release Bar. Bright Ngene Now, a Political Prisoner of Conscience” and “NBA, Please Save Our Democracy”, the protesters accused the state judiciary of deliberately stalling his appeal.
Addressing journalists, protest leader Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s incarceration since July 2024 as a miscarriage of justice.
“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 prevented the demonstrators from entering the International Conference Centre, venue of the NBA conference. Nonetheless, the protesters staged a peaceful demonstration around the premises before dispersing.
