Life Bencher and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has called on lawyers to break free from inaction, stand up for their rights and those of citizens against mounting impunity and excess of political office holders.
In an animated address presented at the ongoing Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Enugu, Ozekhome questioned the notion of national security as promoted since the 1914 amalgamation, asserting that it has consistently protected governments in power rather than ordinary citizens.
Drawing attention to the heavy security presence for delegates in Enugu, he stressed that true security should safeguard everyone, not just the political elite.
Recalling his past struggle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which seized N75 million in legal fees paid to him, Ozekhome disclosed that despite counsel from colleagues to let the matter go, he went to court and won.
The judiciary, he remarked, upheld his right, affirming that lawyers are not required to trace the source of their professional fees unless they have knowledge of illegality.
The Senior Advocate reminded delegates that rights are not granted by government but are inherent, referencing international frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He lamented that many Nigerians cannot access these rights due to governance failures and a lack of basic services.
Beyond physical protection, he called for attention to emotional, mental, economic, and educational security, stressing that the harsh realities of governance have taken a heavy toll on citizens’ well-being.
He warned lawyers against reducing the NBA Annual General Conference to a routine ritual or a platform for politicking. Too many, he said, have abandoned legal practice in pursuit of personal or political interests. He urged the profession to interrogate society, confront abuse of power, and keep government accountable.
Concluding, he challenged lawyers to stand up and stand out, not merely chasing bread-and-butter lawyering but using their calling to defend justice and protect citizens’ rights.
Ozekhome is simply saying what most Nigerians feel—that “national security” in practice protects the powerful, while ordinary citizens are left without even the basics of safety, justice, or economic security.