A prominent law firm, Eze Okafor & Co., has formally announced its decision to boycott the upcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Conference scheduled for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from August 22 to 30, 2025. The firm cited the recent state of emergency declared in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, as the primary reason for its withdrawal.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to the NBA President, the firm’s Principal/Head of Practice, Ugo Muofe Aboh, condemned the suspension of the elected governor and state assembly in Rivers, replacing them with a sole administrator appointed by the President. Aboh argued that this move violates Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution and is a direct assault on democratic principles.

The firm expressed its refusal to attend a conference in a state governed by what it termed “military dictatorship” and stated it would not accept being addressed by a sole administrator appointed through unconstitutional means. Aboh also shared personal reflections on his own experiences under military regimes, emphasizing his lifelong fear of military rule and undemocratic governance.

Eze Okafor & Co. has requested that the NBA relocate the conference to a neighboring state that is under democratic rule, suggesting alternatives such as Imo, Abia, Delta, or Anambra. The firm assured that it would be among the first to attend if the venue was changed to one of these states.

In the letter, the firm also reiterated its commitment to the NBA and the legal profession, confirming its participation in the upcoming NBA Section on Legal Practice Conference in Jos, Plateau State, from April 24 to 27, 2025. The letter was also copied to the Chairman of the NBA Owerri Branch, in an effort to rally support against what it sees as a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy. Eze Okafor & Co. called on the NBA leadership to take a stand for constitutional democracy and reconsider the Port Harcourt location for the 2025 conference.

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