The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, in Oyo State, has decided to boycott all activities for the 2026/2027 New Legal Year hosted by the state’s judiciary.
The branch’s publicity secretary, Raheed Khan, shared this news in a statement released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday night in Ibadan, the state capital.
The decision was made during a general meeting held on Saturday. The members discussed recent actions from the judiciary leadership. They were particularly concerned about the move to stop the Bar’s chairman from speaking at the event.
The branch believes that the administration of justice relies on a strong partnership between the bench and the Bar. These two groups are seen as equal guardians of the rule of law.
They said the annual New Legal Year ceremony is not just a formal event. It is a time for accountability, reflection, and meaningful discussion.
The branch stated that the chairman’s address is vital. It allows the Bar to share important views and push for better judicial practices.
According to them, the judiciary’s decision to block the Bar chairman from speaking is a serious insult to the dignity of all lawyers.
“To deny the Bar its historic voice during a state ceremony is to push legal practitioners from equal partners to mere passive spectators,” they said.
They warned that staying silent in the face of this treatment could create a dangerous situation for the future of the legal profession.
The branch announced that it will hold its own New Legal Year ceremony. This event will take place on its own terms.
The alternative ceremony is set for Monday at 10.00 a.m. It will be at the Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, Bar Centre, NTC Road, Ibadan.
Participants are expected to wear their full legal regalia, including wigs and gowns.
The branch believes that not attending the judiciary’s events and showing up at the Bar Centre will send a strong message.
They stated that history will judge the Bar not by how easily it complies, but by how strongly it stands by its beliefs.
“Let posterity record that when the voice of the Bar was threatened with erasure, the Ibadan Bar stood as one, unshaken, unbroken, dignified, and unapologetic,” they concluded.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State judiciary has planned the 2026/2027 Legal Year Service for Monday. It is scheduled to take place at the Cathedral of St. James, Oke-Bola, Ibadan, and at the Oyo State Judiciary Mosque, High Court Premises, Ring Road, Ibadan.
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