ABUJA, Nigeria – Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to respect the independence of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), expressing concern over alleged directives linked to Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi concerning the association’s forthcoming national elections.
Okay News reports that Amnesty International urged the authorities to avoid any direct or indirect involvement in the NBA’s internal affairs, warning that such actions could undermine the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law.
According to the rights organisation, the NBA said the purported directives include the dissolution of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), postponement of the elections, termination of the current election service provider, creation of a caretaker committee, introduction of National Identification Number (NIN) verification for voters, and amendments to the NBA Constitution to remove universal suffrage.
Amnesty International said the scheduled election of the association’s national officers should proceed as planned, stressing that any attempt by the federal government to control or influence the process would amount to an unjustifiable attack on the independence of the legal profession, the rule of law, and Nigeria’s civic space.
The organisation noted that the NBA is an independent professional body rather than a government institution, adding that the federal government has no legal authority to determine how the association conducts its elections or manages its internal affairs.
It also argued that any interference would conflict with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, as well as the country’s obligations under international human rights law protecting freedom of association and the autonomy of professional organisations.
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian authorities to withdraw any such directives, uphold the NBA’s independence, and ensure its elections are conducted freely, fairly, and without intimidation or political interference. It added that protecting the independence of the legal profession would strengthen the rule of law and help prevent abuse of state power.
