In a speech in Umuahia, Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti urged legal practitioners across Nigeria to prioritise access to justice for indigent and vulnerable citizens. He opened the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA‑SPIDEL) Annual Conference, whose theme was “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development.”
Otti called on lawyers to adopt a more humane approach to cases involving those who cannot afford representation, stressing that the pursuit of justice should outweigh professional interests and financial considerations. “And because you are lawyers, we need to go the extra mile of asking ourselves, beyond all the things that have been said, how can we be of service to people who cannot pay? How can we be of service to the vulnerable? How can we help people who on their own cannot afford to help themselves?” he said. “Until government gets to that level, we have not cracked the surface. If it is only about you and then the money you make and all that, then you don’t need to be here. You may as well go and do something else,” he added.
The governor cited cases of people remaining in correctional facilities despite allegedly having committed no offences warranting their continued detention. He named an individual who was allegedly detained for supporting an opposition political party and directed the Attorney‑General and Commissioner for Justice to work with the Chief Judge to secure the release of such inmates.
Otti warned against the misuse of the justice system to punish citizens for expressing opinions or engaging in social‑media activities, insisting that the protection of individual rights must remain central to governance. He also announced that his administration would soon commission ten newly constructed courthouses equipped with renewable energy systems, digitalised court records and broadband connectivity, and urged lawyers to embrace technological advancements.
Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, speaking at the conference, urged lawyers to move beyond litigation and legal interpretation to champion public interest, protect disadvantaged citizens and ensure that democracy delivers tangible benefits to the people. He identified expensive legal services, prolonged court proceedings, judicial corruption and impunity as major obstacles to access to justice.
Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo‑Okunsanya, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, called on NBA‑SPIDEL to intensify its advocacy for justice, democracy and development, particularly in protecting vulnerable citizens and improving access to justice. She urged the section to launch an intervention programme addressing the treatment of children in police custody and detention facilities, and tasked it with identifying responsibilities, cases, partners and priority areas for intervention within 30 days of the conference, with a progress report due within 90 days.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
