Protest rocks NBA Conference over alleged ‘political imprisonment’ of Enugu lawmaker yesterday, with a large number of protesters pleading the release of an imprisoned NBA member and lawmaker in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Bright Ngene.
Ngene of the Labour Party, who represents Enugu South Urban state constituency, was sentenced to seven years in prison by an Enugu Magistrate court over a resurrected community matter, which many believed was politically motivated.
The protesters, who were mainly his constituents, said every attempt to appeal the magistrate court’s decision in the state high court had met a brick wall, with no less than two judges recusing themselves from the matter.
The protesters carried placards with such inscriptions as “Release Bar. Bright Ngene now, a political prisoner of conscience,” “Say no to miscarriage of Justice,” “NBA is the voice of the voiceless, speak now,” and “NBA please help Bright Ngene to represent his constituency,” among others.
One of the leaders of the protest, Mr Benedict Kachukwu, told newsmen: “We are here to register our peaceful protest to tell the world what has been happening in Enugu State for the past one year.
‘’Since July 28, 2024, Bright Emeka Ngene that won the House of Assembly seat in Enugu South Urban has been unjustly incarcerated.
“Charges that were put on him were baseless, the judicial process was not followed, and in less than two weeks, judgment was dispensed. And the man has been in detention since then. Efforts to take the matter to the high court have proved abortive because judges are now recusing themselves from the case.
“The chief judge has refused to assign the case to a new judge. So ever since then, this man, Bright Ngene, has been in detention for no just cause, all because he won an election. Somehow, he has reaffirmed the decision of the mandate of the people on August 16, 2025, where he won overwhelmingly again, even from detention.
“So, we are here to plead with the Nigerian Bar Association to look into this matter so that the judicial process will be followed. Let me make it clear that we are not afraid of going through the judicial process, we have consistently asked them to assign the case, no matter the judgment that comes, we will take it in good fate.
‘’But up till now, we have not seen, we have not heard, and the case has been in comatose state at the state high court.’’
The protesters were prevented from gaining access into the main bow of the International Conference Center where the NBA conference is taking place, but they made a peaceful demonstration around the arena and left.
