The Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has challenged legal practitioners to adopt a more humane approach in handling cases involving vulnerable citizens who lack the financial powers to defend their rights.
Declaring open the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Annual Conference, held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia, themed, “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development”, the Governor also called on lawyers to make access to justice a priority by extending their services to indigent and vulnerable citizens who lack the means to secure legal representation.
Governor Otti who noted that the government has a responsibility to protect vulnerable persons in society, pointed out that the pursuit of justice must go beyond professional interests and financial considerations.
He warned against the misuse of the justice system to punish citizens for expressing political opinions or engaging in social media activities, insisting that the protection of individual rights must remain central to governance.
The state Chief Executive reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the justice system through sustained investment in judicial infrastructure across the state, urging lawyers to embrace technological changes and prepare for the future of legal practice.
In a keynote address, Former Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo urged lawyers to go beyond litigation and legal interpretation to championing public interest, protect the disadvantaged and ensure that democracy delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Professor Osinbajo, who identified expensive legal services, prolonged court proceedings, judicial corruption and impunity as major obstacles to access to justice, advocated people-centred reforms that would make legal services more affordable and accessible.
Speaking earlier, the NBA President Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsaya, (SAN), challenged the NBA SPIDEL to intensify its advocacy for justice, democracy and development, particularly in protecting vulnerable citizens and improving access to justice.
She stressed the need for a focused intervention programme on the treatment of children in police custody and detention facilities, following reported deaths in custody, stressing that children must be recognised and treated as children from the outset.
The conference featured technical sessions focusing on addressing critical national issues, including access to justice, detention and human rights, disability rights, judicial independence and the role of the Bar in a democracy.
