At the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome delivered a powerful address, urging lawyers to defend their rights and those of citizens, while challenging impunity and governmental overreach.
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Opening his remarks, Ozekhome criticized the concept of “national security” as often propagated by successive governments since the 1914 amalgamation. He argued that national security, in reality, serves only the government in power, not ordinary citizens. He cited the heavy security presence for delegates traveling to Enugu as an example, emphasizing that true security should protect all citizens, not just those in authority.
Ozekhome further highlighted the need to defend lawyers’ professional rights, recounting his own experience with the EFCC, which seized N75 million in legal fees he earned. He said some colleagues advised him to abandon the case, but he insisted on pursuing legal redress. The courts upheld his right, confirming that a lawyer does not need to verify the source of professional fees, unless aware of wrongdoing.
“The right we are talking about is yours for the taking,” Ozekhome said, referencing international human rights frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and international conventions on civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. He lamented that many Nigerians are unaware of their rights or unable to enjoy them due to poor governance and lack of basic amenities.
He urged lawyers to focus on more than just personal or physical security, highlighting the importance of emotional, mental, educational, job, and economic security. “Many people appear fine on the surface, but the realities of governance in Nigeria have deeply affected their mental and emotional wellbeing,” he said.
Ozekhome stressed that fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, movement, and property, are inherent and not granted by the government. He called on lawyers to stop being passive, warning against turning the NBA Annual General Conference into a routine ritual and a platform for internal politicking.
“For too long, we have been sitting down or even lying down. Some lawyers have abandoned the practice of law to focus solely on politics or personal gain. We must interrogate society, challenge impunity, and hold government actions accountable,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging lawyers to “stand up and stand out,” using their profession to defend justice and the rights of citizens, rather than merely pursuing bread-and-butter practice or political ambitions.
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Explore Nigeria’s Constitutional System — 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
