Get Guardian on Google…Warns against using justice system to punish citizens for political views, social media activities
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has urged lawyers to make legal services accessible to indigent and vulnerable Nigerians who cannot afford the cost of legal representation.
He also called on legal practitioners to adopt a more humane approach in handling cases involving citizens whose rights have been violated but lack the financial capacity to seek redress.
Otti made the appeal while declaring open the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Annual Conference at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The governor said government had a responsibility to protect vulnerable members of society, stressing that the pursuit of justice should go beyond professional interests and financial considerations.
The conference, themed “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development,” featured technical sessions on critical national issues, including access to justice, detention and human rights, disability rights, judicial independence and the role of the Bar in a democracy.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening the justice system, Otti said his government would sustain investments in judicial infrastructure across the state.
He also urged lawyers to embrace technological advancements and adapt to emerging trends in legal practice to improve service delivery.
The governor 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.
In his keynote address, former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, urged lawyers to go beyond litigation and legal interpretation to champion public interest, protect disadvantaged groups and ensure democracy delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Osinbajo identified the high cost of legal services, prolonged court proceedings, judicial corruption and impunity as major obstacles to access to justice.
He advocated people-centred reforms to make legal services more affordable and accessible, particularly to citizens who cannot afford legal representation.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya (SAN), challenged NBA-SPIDEL to intensify its advocacy for justice, democracy and development, particularly in protecting vulnerable citizens and expanding access to justice.
She specifically called for a focused intervention programme to address the treatment of children in police custody and detention facilities, citing reported deaths in custody.
Badejo-Okunsanya stressed that children must be recognised and treated as children from the moment they come into contact with law enforcement authorities.
Earlier, Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), said hosting the 2026 NBA-SPIDEL conference would provide legal practitioners with an opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and promote justice.
He urged young lawyers and other stakeholders in the justice sector to make the pursuit of justice a priority in their professional engagements.
Uwanna commended the Otti administration for enacting the Criminal Justice Law 2026, Administration of Justice Law 2026 and Restorative Justice System Law 2026, describing them as part of efforts to strengthen the justice sector in the state.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Solicitor-General of Abia State, who is also Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Paul Ogubunka, said the large turnout of delegates demonstrated growing commitment to public interest and justice sector reforms.
