The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association has resolved to take decisive action over the prolonged delay in the hearing of the appeal filed by embattled lawyer, Mr. Bright Emeka Ngene, including a possible boycott of proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Enugu State.
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At its meeting, the NEC directed that a five-member intervention committee be immediately constituted to interface with the Chief Judge with a view to securing a hearing date for Ngene’s appeal within two weeks. The association warned that if no date is fixed within the stipulated period, NBA branches in Enugu would boycott the Chief Judge’s court and consider further legal action.
The committee is chaired by Sammie Somiari, SAN, with Musa Attah, SAN, Chairman of the NBA Enugu Branch, V. C. Odo, Esq., Hon. Chidi Aroh and Osato Uwagboe as members. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, and Abdul Muhammed, SAN, also volunteered to serve on the committee. It has been mandated to engage the Chief Judge and seek an expedited resolution in the interest of justice and fairness.
The NEC said the situation raises serious concerns about the rights of a legal practitioner and public confidence in the administration of justice. It stressed that the association would not hesitate to challenge what it considers a violation of Ngene’s fundamental rights if the delays persist.
Ngene has been in custody at the Enugu Correctional Centre for nearly two years following his conviction and seven-year sentence for theft and conspiracy by an Enugu South Magistrate Court. His appeal at the Enugu State High Court has suffered repeated setbacks due to the recusal of judges assigned to hear the matter, with Justice Chinedu Ezugwu becoming the fourth judge to withdraw from the case.
The appeal was earlier slated for hearing on January 19, 2026, when NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, led a high-powered team of senior lawyers, including Chief Arthur Obi-Okafor, SAN, and NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Prof. Uju Agomoh, to court. Proceedings could not go on after it emerged that hearing notices had not been served on the respondent, the Enugu State Attorney-General.
When the matter was adjourned to January 29, hopes of hearing the appeal were again dashed as Justice Ezugwu also recused himself. No reason was publicly given for the withdrawal. According to the NBA Human Rights Institute, three other judges had previously stepped down at different stages, prolonging the appeal and keeping Ngene in custody.
The NBA Human Rights Institute described the situation as distressing and warned that repeated recusals and delays in hearing the appeal undermine public confidence in the justice system. It noted that the detained lawyer continues to endure prolonged incarceration while awaiting determination of his appeal.
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