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The NBA has warned Enugu’s Chief Judge to act on Bright Ngene’s stalled appeal within 14 days or face sanctions over judicial interference.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, to act within 14 days to reassign the appeal of detained lawmaker Bright Ngene.

The warning was delivered by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) during the 17th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture in Enugu. 

The lecture’s theme judicial corruption and its threat to democracy framed the NBA’s ultimatum.

Ngene, a Labour Party member for Enugu South I, remains in custody after an Enugu South Magistrate’s Court sentenced him to seven years on June 28, 2024. 

Rights groups and supporters have criticised the conviction, calling the lawmaker a political prisoner.

Despite being behind bars, Ngene won a rerun election last August, defeating a candidate backed by the state government. He has, however, stayed in detention since the sentence.

Trouble deepened when judges of the Enugu State High Court reportedly declined to hear his appeal, citing alleged external pressure. Three judges formally recused themselves, the NBA says, and attempts to get the case heard stalled.

Osigwe called the refusals “a dangerous signal” that could damage confidence in the judiciary. He said the NBA has formed a committee to discuss the matter with the Chief Judge and press for immediate assignment of the appeal.

If the case remains unassigned after two weeks, the NBA will ask its Enugu members to boycott the Chief Judge’s court and will file a formal petition. 

That staged response, the NBA says, is intended to restore openness and rule-following in the court process.

Osigwe also questioned the recall of Ngene’s file from a judge on the very day lawyers appeared for hearing, saying the move lacked explanation and record. 

He urged transparency and asked why the Chief Judge could not simply hear the appeal himself.

The NBA president used strong language to describe the stakes. He said a corrupt judge does far more damage than an individual criminal corrupt rulings can erode the moral basis of society and weaken democratic institutions.

Citing data from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, Osigwe noted worrying levels of bribery among public officials in 2023 and said public belief that judges accept bribes remains high.

Osigwe urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to step up disciplinary action, including suspension where allegations are credible, and to ensure judges live above reproach.

The lecture was organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) to honour the late activist Ralph Opara. Dr. Joseph Oteri, NAS president, called the talk a summons for citizens and lawyers to confront judicial corruption head-on.

Panelists at the event recommended practical reforms: transparent judicial appointments, automated case assignment systems, stronger oversight and clear disciplinary pathways to rebuild trust in the courts.

What happens next is straightforward: the NBA will watch the Chief Judge for 14 days. If the appeal is not properly assigned and heard, the association has signalled it will escalate with a boycott and formal complaints a move that could sharpen public focus on judicial independence in Enugu.