NBA AGC 2026: Governor Fubara Calls on Legal Profession to Safeguard Rule of Law and Democracy
At the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara called on legal practitioners to remain unwavering in their defence of the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and the fundamental rights of citizens.
Speaking on the theme “Beyond Limits”, Governor Fubara underscored the legal system as the bedrock of governance, stressing that its ultimate purpose is to safeguard citizens’ security and wellbeing. He warned that any disregard for the sanctity of law and democratic principles risks plunging society into disorder.
Fubara urged judges to view the courts not merely as dispute resolution centres but as the final refuge for justice, reminding them that the integrity of their judgments directly shapes law, order, and national development. He cautioned against judicial complacency, insisting that judges must remain courageous guardians of democracy and good governance.
He charged lawyers to speak truth to power whenever political authority seeks to override the Constitution, describing the profession as the “subtle nerves of the nation’s spine.” According to him, the greatest duty of a lawyer is to combine conscience, commitment, and courage in defending citizens’ rights.
Reflecting on his administration’s experience in Rivers State, Fubara said his government had “walked through the furnace of power” but remains resolute in delivering the dividends of democracy. The governor also highlighted his administration’s contributions to the development of the judiciary, saying that in the past three years, his government had worked with the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to expand access to justice through the appointment of more judges and the establishment of additional courts.
He disclosed that the state government had also constructed a Federal High Court facility which, he said, would soon be handed over to the Federal High Court.
Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to judicial autonomy, improved welfare for judges, and strengthening the independence of the judiciary, which he described as indispensable to sustaining democracy and good governance.
