The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has raised concerns over the worsening security situation in the South-East region, citing widespread illegal detentions, extrajudicial killings, and human rights violations. In an interview in Enugu, Osigwe expressed alarm over the breakdown of law and order in the area.
“The security challenges in the South-East demand urgent and serious attention. Many communities no longer have functional local government structures, police stations have been destroyed, kidnappings for ransom are rampant, and these issues are increasingly being normalized,” he stated.
Osigwe criticized the practice of magistrates without proper jurisdiction issuing remand orders, which often result in prolonged and unjust detentions. He revealed that over 68% of prison inmates nationwide are awaiting trial, with many spending more time in detention than they would have if convicted.
“We strongly condemn the arbitrary detention of individuals without trial. We have urged Chief Judges to ensure that magistrates’ courts do not issue remand orders without setting a return date for review. No one should be detained indefinitely without being formally charged in court. Magistrates without jurisdiction must stop granting indefinite remand orders,” he emphasized.
Osigwe called on Chief Judges to instruct magistrates to refrain from remanding suspects without promptly charging them to court. He also encouraged victims of unlawful detention to seek legal redress, assuring them that NBA lawyers are ready to provide pro bono services to support such cases.
“Victims of unjust detention have the right to sue the state for holding them without trial. While we cannot instigate legal action, we encourage those who feel aggrieved to approach lawyers. Many NBA members are willing to offer free legal services to assist them,” he added.
The NBA President further highlighted the association’s efforts to promote peace and security in the South-East through constructive engagement with relevant agencies and advocacy initiatives. He stressed the importance of collaboration to restore order and protect the rights of citizens in the region.
