NBA applauds swift conviction of Ekpa, raises uncomfortable question for Nigeria

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has praised the speedy trial and conviction of separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, sentenced by a Finnish court to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.

The Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti, Finland, handed down the judgment after finding Ekpa guilty of terrorism charges, in what many observers have described as a textbook example of judicial efficiency.

NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, speaking in Abuja during the presentation of the communiqué from the just-concluded 65th Annual General Conference (AGC), said Nigeria’s legal system had lessons to learn.

“For me, the real takeaway is not the conviction itself, but the time it took to commence and conclude his trial. I only wish the Nigerian judiciary were watching and taking notes,” Osigwe remarked pointedly.

He urged Nigeria’s investigative and prosecutorial agencies to raise their game by conducting watertight investigations and presenting solid evidence to avoid the endless adjournments and inconclusive trials that plague the country’s courts.

Osigwe also noted that Ekpa’s conviction was a warning shot about the dangers of abusing social media, stressing that anyone who weaponised online platforms to incite ethnic hatred or violence must be ready to face consequences.

On the Department of State Services’ (DSS) recent grilling of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) as part of a screening process, Osigwe disclosed that the association was in talks with relevant authorities to ensure such practices do not reoccur.

“Confidential reports on SAN candidates can be written without turning the process into interrogations as though our members were common suspects,” he said.

The NBA President further defended the inclusion of newly called lawyers in AGC debates, describing it as proof that “wisdom is not the monopoly of age.”

In its communiqué, the association reaffirmed its commitment to driving reforms anchored on equity, inclusivity, and accountability, while pushing for modernisation of justice delivery and legal education in Nigeria.

The NBA also pledged stronger continental ties, vowing to collaborate with African bar associations to dismantle trade barriers, harmonise legal frameworks, and project Africa’s voice on the global stage.

But in a subtle twist, Osigwe asked a question that cast a shadow over the celebrations:

“If a Finnish court could try and convict Simon Ekpa within months,” he said, “then what excuse does Nigeria have for cases—some dating back decades—that remain trapped in our courts? That, perhaps, is the real trial before us.” (NAN)