Numerous voters from Enugu South Urban constituency staged a peaceful protest at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Enugu, demanding the release of Barr. Bright Ngene, a Labour Party (LP) candidate.
Ngene won the state constituency seat at the State Assembly in the 2023 general elections. Last Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also declared Ngene as the winner of the rerun election held in Enugu South 1 State Constituency.
Ngene has been remanded at the Enugu Maximum Custodial Center since July 28, 2024, after an Enugu South Magistrates’ Court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment for alleged conspiracy and stealing.
The protesters accused the Enugu State government of orchestrating Ngene’s imprisonment and intimidating judges from hearing the case on appeal.
“As you can see, we are here with friends of Barr. Bright Ngene, who was unjustly incarcerated. We are here to register our peaceful protest to inform the world about what has been happening in Enugu State for the past year,” the leader of the protesters, Mr. Akachukwu Benedict, told journalists.
Benedict added, “The charges brought against him are baseless, and the judicial process was not followed. Judgment was delivered in less than two weeks, and the man has been in detention since then. Efforts to have the matter heard in the High Court have been unsuccessful because judges are recusing themselves from the case.”
He continued, “We are here to appeal to the Nigerian Bar Association to look into this matter and ensure that the judicial process is followed. Let me make it clear that we are not afraid of going through the judicial process.
“We have consistently asked for the case to be assigned to a judge, and we will accept whatever judgment comes our way. However, up until now, we have not seen any progress, and the case has been in limbo at the State High Court.
“Several judges have recused themselves, and I recall that on March 11, 2025, one of the judges called for the judgment from the Magistrate Court, only to recuse himself from the case on the day of the sitting. Since then, the case has not been assigned to any judge, and the man has been languishing in jail unjustly.
“This is the highest form of injustice. We cry out that the South East is being marginalized, but within the South East, we are marginalizing ourselves. This is not right, this is unfair, and it is not good for our democracy. We have written to every organ of the NBA, but there has been no response. As I speak, Barr. Ubani Monday is aware of this case and is here; Femi Falana is also aware and is here.
“Top Senior Advocates of Nigeria are aware of this case and are here. We have done all we can, and we have decided to resort to peaceful protest. We are not here to fight or quarrel; we are here to beg. Please, let this man be freed so that he can go and represent the people who voted him into the House of Assembly.”
The protesters demanded the intervention of the NBA, lamenting that various courts in the state have compromised in the case.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Free Barr. Bright Ngene,” ” NBA, it’s Barr. Bright Ngene today,” “It could be another lawyer tomorrow,” “Injustice to one Lawyer is injustice to all lawyers,” “Enugu State judiciary must be independent from the executive!” “Say no to miscarriage of justice,” and “The people’s choice is not a crime, Free Bright Ngene.”
Benedict appealed to the NBA to look into the matter and ensure that the judicial process is followed.
“We are not here to fight or quarrel; we are here to beg. Please, let this man be freed so that he can go and represent the people who voted him into the House of Assembly,” he pleaded.
