NBA condemns treatment of Ms Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria, describing it as "reckless," "unlawful," and a grave violation of her right to dignity, reports ITREALMS.

The association in a press statement available to ITREALMS and signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN and General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, they condemned the events of 10 August 2025 aboard an Ibom Air flight to Lagos, and called for the immediate withdrawal of the lifetime flight ban imposed on Emmanson, a public apology, as well as full cooperation with an impartial investigation into the incident.

The NBA argued that only statutory regulators, not private airlines or associations, have the authority to restrict a passenger's right to fly. Stressing that Ibom Air should issue a public apology to Emmanson for the humiliation and violation of her rights.

The NBA also demands a thorough inquiry into the incident, sanctioning those found culpable, and enforcing strict compliance with established standards for humane treatment of air passengers.

The allegations against Ibom Air include false imprisonment, as footage shows an Ibom Air hostess preventing Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, potentially escalating the situation.

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According to NBA, the circulation of unedited footage exposing Emmanson's nudity is also a criminal act, and those responsible should be identified and prosecuted.

The NBA has pledged to provide Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and she obtains redress for the violations suffered. The association emphasizes that respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

Group applauds NBA President over bar ceremony boycott - ITREALMS

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Foremost civic society organisation on anti-corruption and transparency in governance, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau, for boycotting the recent Bar ceremony over the refusal of the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, from presiding over the ceremony on moral and ethical ground.

The Civil group in a letter signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, titled ‘Solidarity with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Boycott of the Call to Bar Ceremony’, described Mr Yakubu Maikyau’s action as standing for the truth and defending the professional integrity of the association, therefore raised concerns over the legal profession's gradually loss of respect and prestige for which it was renowned over the years.

In the letter addressed to the NBA President, HEDA argues that, “We cannot agree any less with you that the legal profession is gradually losing its respect and prestige earned over the years. 

N275m fraud: AFRICMIL petitions IGP, NBA over conduct of police lawyer - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over what it called ‘unethical conduct’ of a police prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Joseph Nwadike, reports ITRealms.

The petition signed by Chido Onumah, Coordinator of the Centre, AFRCMIL is seeking the urgent intervention of these institutions to investigate and call to order, Mr. Nwadike of the Force Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force and a prosecuting counsel for the police in a dubious allegation leveled against Aaron Kaase, a whistleblower in the Police Service Commission.

Mr. Kaase was suspended in May 2015 for reporting fraud amounting to N275.5m allegedly perpetrated by Mr. Mike Okiro, the outgone Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

“For this patriotic act, the whistleblower has been further visited with a series of reprisals, including threats, intimidation and a false allegation of visa scam in which Mr. Nwadike, is actively involved as prosecutor,” he said.

According to the petition, after a magistrate court in the Federal Capital Territory struck out the fraudulent case against Kaase, his persecutors took it to the High Court where the defendant was also victorious as the court discharged and acquitted him for “lack of diligent persecution.” But his persecutors would not relent.

“In a flagrant abuse of court process and display of unprofessional practice, Nwadike has been moving from one court to another in the FCT in a bid to ensure that the whistleblower is found guilty on a charge that is obviously trumped-up, and for which he had been discharged and acquitted by a competent court of jurisdiction,” Onumah said.

He noted that lawyers are stakeholders in the fight against corruption, and as officers in the temple of justice they are duty bound to help ensure justice at all times, including guaranteeing the safety and protection of whistleblowers.

The statement therefore urged the police authorities and the NBA to launch immediate investigation into the scandal with a view to reining in Mr Nwadike.

“This once again underscores the point we at the AFRICMIL have been making; you cannot have a policy that encourages public interest disclosures and at the same time allows those who make such disclosures to be unnecessarily persecuted” Mr Onumah said.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Communications Minister applauds NBA for embracing ICT

ITRealms:

The Communications Minister, Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu has applauded the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the giant feat of striving to reform the practice of the legal profession leveraging on Information Communication Technology (ICT), reports ITRealms.

Welcoming NBA President, A.B.Mahmoud and his team in his office, the minister expressed delight over the resolve of the Association to engage ICT in refining legal practice, saying advocacy and capacity building are veritable means to make Nigerian lawyers more effective and efficient.

Shittu also pledged to support the forthcoming 2017 NBA National Conference, saying that he will use his good offices to actualize the objective of the conference by encouraging agencies under the supervision of his ministry such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to give logistics support to NBA for the conference.

The minister who promised to attend the conference billed for Lagos between August 18 and 24, 2017, alongside lawyers in the ministry and agencies under him, said he is proud to be one of the 11 versatile lawyers that are current members of the 37 members Federal Executive Council.

The NBA President said the visit was an advocacy one and also to seek support and cooperation for the conference of the minster and agencies under the ministry, stressing that NBA is out to gather necessary support for the success of the conference having contacted the Law Societies of England and South Africa.

This year’s conference, he said focuses on development of institutions of government, considering the various challenges the nation is facing.

Other members in his entourage were; Prof Shehu Musa, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Dafe Akpedeye SAN, Dr. Garba Tetengi SAN and Fatima Batulu Mohammed.

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NBA says DSS action unconstitutional, demands release of arrested judges now

ITRealms:

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) may be spoiling for war over the arrest of some three judges across the country at the weekend, describing it as unconstitutional since the country is not under military rule, reports ITRealms.

NBA also warned it will do everything possible to maintain sanctity of judiciary and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Department of State Security (DSS) to order and for them to immediately release the judges arrest in a few in the early hours of Saturday.

The NBA President, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, ITRealms gathered made this calls while addressing the media, on Saturday, noting that even within the judiciary, there are processes of handling such issues as corruption and indiscipline and not the duty of DSS.

Mahmoud, who was accompanied by some senior members of the bar at the press conference, included past presidents of NBA, and comprised Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Olisa Agbakoba SAN, JB Daudu SAN, Others are former Secretary, Dele Adesina SAN, Kemi Pinheirro SAN, Kanyinsola Ajayi SAN, Yusuf Ali SAN, Monday Ubani, and others.

Mahmoud confirmed that several judges including justices of the Supreme Court Okoro and Nkwocha were arrested by men of DSS between Friday and Saturday.

He said that the information reaching his office, the raid still continued and that those arrested have been moved to Abuja.

NBA insisted that President caution the security agencies by directing them aright with the release of those judges without further delays or strings attached.

The NBA, he said, will go to any length to protect the sanctity of the judiciary.

"There will be grave consequences if the judges are not released immediately,” he said.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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