Lawyers must ‘stand out, stand tall’, be defenders of truth and conscience of nation, say Nigerian leaders

Nigeria’s lawyers need to stand out through excellence and stand tall through courage, especially in the face the region’s socioeconomic and institutional challenges, while keeping in mind that law is more than a profession and lawyers more than courtroom advocates, said senior figures in a stirring opening to this week’s Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, in Enugu.

“Let me say this: the theme of this year’s conference, ‘Stand Out, Stand Tall’, is a timely reminder of the responsibility we bear as lawyers and leaders,” said Dr Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State. “The law is not just a profession – it is the conscience of the nation. We are not only courtroom advocates; we are also defenders of truth, architects of peace, and champions of equity.”

Earlier, the crowd of more than 15,000 delegates attending in person and online heard Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, deliver a powerful opening underlining the critical role of law as the foundation of societal order. 

The Sultan of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of Nigeria's ummah, warned that without a legal framework, society would descend into chaos. He commended the Nigerian Bar Association’s dedication to the rule of law, while urging conference attendees to recommit themselves to service and integrity, and identifying three key issues for this year’s Annual General Conference to address:

• Law Reform: Modernizing outdated Nigerian laws to reflect contemporary realities.

• Social Justice: Bridging the growing gap between the affluent and the underprivileged.

• Access to Justice: Ensuring that justice is not denied to the economically disadvantaged.

Following the Sultan, Mbah discussed how since he took office as Governor of Enugu State in 2023, his administration had made justice sector reform a cornerstone of governance. Mbah noted Enugu State is among the first states to fully implement financial autonomy for the judiciary, and had also carried out comprehensive digitization of courtrooms, with its High Court Complex now equipped with e-filing, virtual hearing facilities, and integrated case management. 

They also introduced real-time transcription for courts, eliminating the strain of longhand recording on judges, cutting down on delays, and improving productivity. 

“To decongest our courts and promote alternative dispute resolution, we have strengthened and expanded the Enugu Multi-Door Courthouse, making it a model in the region for commercial and family dispute settlement,” said Mbah. 

“Through partnership with civil society and the NBA, we have expanded access to pro bono legal services for indigent citizens and detainees, especially in our rural areas. No one should be too poor to afford justice. We have also carried out an extensive codification and review of obsolete state laws to reflect modern realities, ensure gender justice, and promote the ease of doing business in Enugu.”

Dr Emeka Obegolu SAN said this year’s conference theme of ‘Stand Out, Stand Tall’ was a dual call to action: ‘stand out’ by pursuing excellence, professionalism, and ethical conduct in legal practice; ‘stand tall’ by resisting injustice and corruption.

Nigerian Bar Association President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN called on the assembled lawyers to embrace service, perseverance, and professional excellence, and urged the legal community to strengthen Nigerian institutions, reject overdependence on external systems, and champion fairness and equity.