Calls for stronger democratic institutions, an independent judiciary and greater respect for the rule of law took centre stage on Monday, August 24, as the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, continued its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
The conference, themed “Beyond Limits”, is holding from August 21 to 28 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, bringing together lawyers, judges, policymakers, political leaders and other stakeholders to examine the challenges facing Nigeria’s justice system and democracy.
Declaring the conference open, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara urged judges and lawyers to defend constitutional democracy and fundamental rights without fear or favour.
Fubara warned that political interference, corruption, undue delays and excessive reliance on technicalities could weaken public confidence in the justice system.
He stressed that courts should remain a dependable avenue for ordinary Nigerians seeking justice rather than institutions accessible only to those with political or financial influence.
According to the governor, an effective justice system is fundamental to maintaining law and order and creating the conditions necessary for national development.
Fubara also highlighted investments by his administration in judicial infrastructure and efforts to strengthen the independence of the judiciary.
Former Liberian President George Weah, who delivered the keynote address, also emphasised the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary to the survival of democracy.
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Weah urged Nigerian judges and lawyers to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms, arguing that democratic institutions could not function effectively without a judiciary capable of acting independently and a legal profession willing to defend the rule of law.
The former Liberian leader’s remarks reinforced the central focus of the conference, which seeks to examine how Nigeria can overcome institutional weaknesses and improve justice delivery.
Outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the association’s return to Port Harcourt followed the relocation of its 2025 conference from the state after the declaration of a state of emergency.
He said the return demonstrated the NBA’s commitment to democratic values and the restoration of constitutional governance.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and other speakers also stressed the need to examine ethical standards in legal practice and the responsibilities of lawyers and judges in strengthening Nigeria’s institutions.
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and human rights experts were among prominent participants at the conference, which continues until August 28.
The event is expected to feature further discussions on justice delivery, constitutional governance, professional ethics, democracy and national development.
The conference will also witness the inauguration of the NBA’s incoming leadership under Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN.
With Nigeria facing continuing concerns over insecurity, governance and public confidence in state institutions, the discussions in Port Harcourt have placed the rule of law and institutional independence at the centre of the broader debate over the country’s democratic future.