The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Human Rights Monitoring Committee has released its comprehensive report on human rights activities carried out by branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) across the country between January and October 2025, as part of activities marking this year’s International Human Rights Day.
The report was presented under the theme of the 2025 commemoration, “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essential,” following a directive from the NBA First Vice President and Chairman of the NBA Human Rights Governing Board, Mr. Sabastine Anyia, who mandated the Committee to monitor and document human rights engagements of NBA branches nationwide.
According to the Committee, the monitoring exercise was designed to deepen commitment to human rights advocacy and to set measurable standards for branch participation. It recalled that in 2024, NBA branches were tasked with securing the release of inmates and suspects from correctional facilities and police cells, with awards given to branches that recorded the highest number of releases.
Read the full report below
NBA HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING COMMITTEE REPORT
INTRODUCTION:
As the NBA Human Rights Governing Board commemorate this year’s International Human Rights Day which theme is “HUMAN RIGHTS- OUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL”, The NBA Human Rights Monitoring Committee was mandated by the NBA 1st Vice President and Chairman of the NBA Human Rights Governing Board in the person of Sabastine Anyia, to carry out a task which is monitoring the Human Rights activities of all the branches of the NBA in Nigeria.
Recall last year that all branches were given an assignment which was securing the release of inmates and suspects from Correctional Facilities and Police Cells respectively. Any branch with the highest number of release, comes first position.
This year, we decided to take it up a little further. The assignment for this year is for Branches to articulate and put in writing with evidence every Human Rights activity done by them between January to October, 2025. This includes cases handled and still being handled, Seminars, Work Shops, Town Hall meetings, Awareness on human rights, Court cases (Judgments and Rulings on Bail or any other human rights issue will be applicable. The Branch with the most activity wins.
The essence of this assignment is to set a record, encourage and motivation to branches to indulge in Human Rights activities for a better society.
OUR FINDINGS:
In response to our publication, the Committee received reports from different branches of the NBA across Nigeria. Though some branches submitted their reports after 12:am on 8th December, 2025 which was out of time and therefore were not considered.
However, after due consideration of the efforts and job well done by the NBA branches, we realized that from the reports, this year’s NBA Human Rights Activities of the branches are 185 activities. Like we earlier said, these activities includes Seminars, Work Shops, Town Hall meeting, Court cases, Awareness, visits to Police Station and Correctional Centres.
The branches that submitted their activities within time are Ogwashi Uku Branch, Damaturu Branch, Aba Branch, Udu Branch, Kaduna Branch, Garki Branch, Ikeja Branch, Nyanya Karu Branch, Ikorodu Branch, Ilorin Branch and Jos Branch.
OUR RESOLUTION
As mandated by the NBA Human Rights Institute Governing Board, the winners of the activities have been divided into the three (3) Zones of NBA. They are as follows:
WESTERN BAR
Ikeja Branch came First by carrying out 53 activities as against Ikorodu Branch that carried out 6 activities, Udu Branch 4 activities and Ogwashi Uku Branch with 1 activity.
NOTHERN ZONE
Nyanya Karu came 1st Position with 25 activities, as against Damaturu Branch with 21 activities, Jos Branch with 2 activities, Kaduna Branch with 15 activities and Garki Branch with 17 activities.
EASTERN BAR
Aba Branch came 1st Position with 33 activities.
It would be pertinent to state that the Northern Zone has the highest participation followed by the Western Bar and then Estern Bar.
RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION:
We as a Committee recommend that the Human Rights Committee of all the branches of the NBA in Nigeria should carry out more Human Rights activities for a better society which is in tandem with this year’s theme “HUMAN RIGHTS: OUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL”.
Thank you all.
Signed:
NBA Human Rights Monitoring Committee.
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