The Nigerian Bar Association Human Rights Institute (NBA- HRI) has raised serious concerns over the continued detention of a legal practitioner, Mr. Bright Emeka Ngene, who remains in custody at the Enugu Correctional Centre amid prolonged delays in the hearing of his appeal.
In a message circulated to members of the Bar and human rights advocates on Wednesday, the 1st Vice President of the NBA and Chairman of the NBA Human Rights Institute, Mr. Sabastine Anyia, disclosed that Mr. Ngene is still in prison custody over an alleged offence, with his appeal stalled after multiple judges reportedly recused themselves from the case.
According to the statement, three judges of the Enugu State Judiciary have, at different critical stages, withdrawn from hearing Mr. Ngene’s appeal, a development that has allegedly deepened the uncertainty surrounding the matter and prolonged his stay in custody.
Anyia described the situation as distressing, noting that the repeated recusals have taken a heavy toll on the detained lawyer, who continues to endure what he termed “agony” while awaiting justice.
It was further disclosed that the case has now been fixed for January 29, 2026, at the Enugu High Court Complex, raising renewed hope that the appeal may finally be heard.
In view of the circumstances, the NBA leadership appealed to lawyers across the country particularly members of the Eastern Bar Forum to attend the court sitting in large numbers as a show of solidarity.
“Justice for one is justice for all. Today it is Bright Ngene; tomorrow it may be someone else,” the statement read, stressing that prolonged delays in the administration of justice undermine public confidence in the legal system.
Anyia confirmed that the Senior Advocates of Nigeria handling the case are fully prepared for the January 29 hearing and assured colleagues of his personal presence in court on that date.
He urged members of the legal profession to lend their voices and presence in defence of the rule of law, warning that justice delayed is justice denied.
The NBA Vice President further called on lawyers to stand together in pursuit of fairness and accountability, expressing optimism that collective action would help ensure a just outcome in the matter.
