The second day of the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Enugu was on Monday marked by massive protests calling for the release of Hon. Bright Ngene, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly and NBA member.
Ngene, who represents Enugu South Urban Constituency on platform of the Labour Party, is serving a seven-year jail term following his conviction by a magistrate court for a community dispute.
His supporters, however, alleged that the case was politically motivated.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Release Barr. Bright Ngene now, a political prisoner of conscience,” and “NBA please save our democracy,” the protesters accused the state judiciary of frustrating attempts to appeal his conviction.
They noted that at least two judges had recused themselves while the case remained unassigned at the state High Court.
Addressing journalists, protest leader, Mr. Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s incarceration since July 2024 as unjust.
He alleged that due process was not followed in his trial and appealed to the NBA and senior lawyers attending the conference to intervene.
Security operatives prevented the demonstrators from entering the main hall of the International Conference Centre, venue of the NBA conference, but they staged a peaceful protest in and around the premises before dispersing.(Vanguard)
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