NBA NEC CONDEMNS MISUSE OF CRIMINAL PROCESS IN CIVIL AND DEFAMATION MATTERS
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), at its meeting held on Thursday, 7 May 2026 in Awka, Anambra State, adopted a resolution condemning the increasing misuse of criminal law enforcement mechanisms in disputes fundamentally civil in nature, particularly matters relating to defamation and reputational injury.
NEC considered recent reports involving the arrest of individuals over a viral social media publication concerning businessman Mr. Tony Elumelu and expressed concern over the growing tendency to deploy police powers in matters that ought properly to be resolved through civil legal processes.
The Council emphasized that while false and defamatory publications may give rise to legal consequences, civil remedies such as defamation proceedings provide lawful and adequate avenues for redress without resort to arrest, detention, or criminal prosecution.
NEC warned that the criminalisation of essentially civil disputes undermines constitutional safeguards, including the rights to personal liberty, freedom of expression, and fair hearing.
The Council further noted that the abuse of police powers in civil disputes risks creating a chilling effect on lawful expression and public discourse.
NEC therefore called on law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and ensure that criminal processes are not improperly invoked in matters that do not disclose recognised criminal offences under Nigerian law.
The Council also demanded the immediate release of any person arrested solely in connection with such publications where no lawful criminal offence has been disclosed.
The Supreme Court in the case of Ugbah Vs Ugbah (2026) 4 NWLR 479 SC precisely at (p 511, Para E) per Abiru JSC held that:
'It is not permissible for a Man to marry until he is financially able to bear the maintenance expenses. The Prophet, peace be unto him, commanded those who cannot afford it to persevere and fast.'
As a Single Nigerian Male Bachelor, quote this case for anyone pressuring you to go and marry, despite the dwindling economy.
Firstly, I’m a graduate of this prestigious school.
Secondly, the SU was not useless during my time and yes, I joined protests when I was there.
Your SU wants to enjoy the benefits of being in that position but they don’t want the risk that comes with it.
Lmaoo, like say na today dem de scare SU with extra semesters.
The new transport system introduced in OAU has caused severe queues at bus stops, overcrowding, and unnecessary stress for students and staff. Many of us now arrive late to lectures and miss important activities prompt intervention will be appreciated from the management
If new policies must be introduced, they should improve existing systems rather than replace efficiency with hardship.
Despite a 72-hour lecture boycott and repeated complaints, students at Obafemi Awolowo University are still facing persistent transport challenges.
@OAUniversity What steps are being taken to address this? ✊🏽
#OAU #StudentWelfare #CampusTransport #CampusActivism
If nothing is done about this CNG bus situation, next session’s balloting may turn chaotic. After that, illegal bedspace selling will likely follow, making things even worse.
Imagine students leaving hostels by 6am just to attend an 8am class while dealing with the country’s already weak security situation.
We are calling public attention to the unnecessary hardship OAU students have been subjected to. We never asked for CNG buses in the first place. If introduced, they should make life easier, not more difficult.
Please retweet for wider reach whether you are an OAU student or not. This affects us all.
It is not possible 😭
I no dey go anywhere 😭
OAU should return our town buses and bikes.32,00+ students and large number of staff, workers, market people and even secondary school students, to those number of buses is diabolical.
@GreatIfe_SU@TheGreatestIFE#Returnourbuses
OAU students are suffering. The 72-hour lecture boycott by the students' union yielded no results.
We had a very efficient transport system, and now we are forced by people who have their own private cars to enter CNG buses and motorcycles, which have proven to be very inefficient.
To meet up with 9 AM classes, you have to leave your hostel by 6 AM.
All motorcycles and commercial buses have been stopped.
This is my fourth year in this school, and I have never experienced this type of queue.
We are calling the attention of the public to the unnecessary plight OAU students have been subjected to.
Please retweet for a wider audience whether you are an OAU student or not. We never asked for CNG buses. It should help make life better and not difficult for us
Public Apology to the School Management for Inciting the Union
Dear Esteemed School Management,
I write to sincerely apologise for the grave offence of encouraging students to complain about the transportation situation. In hindsight, I should have simply endured the daily long queues, four people squeezed into seats meant for three, and hours of waiting under the sun in silence. It was clearly wrong of me to speak up when movement across campus has become unnecessarily stressful and disruptive to academic activities.
I also apologise for overlooking the beauty in trekking long distances due to insufficient vehicles, watching buses fail to reach areas that bikes would normally access, and passing by parked tricycles that are not even functioning. I should have appreciated the innovation in creating a system where I am routinely stranded, delayed, and forced to adjust to congestion, limited route coverage, and consistent lateness to lectures as a character-building exercise.
Going forward, I will do better by keeping quiet, managing the stress, and celebrating inefficiency as progress. Kindly forgive me for ever thinking that access to reliable transportation should be a basic part of student welfare rather than a privilege I must suffer for.
Yours in uninterrupted endurance,
A Concerned Student
@drealbigvirg Imagine having to endure this queue under the sun just to go in for an exam. SMH! Studying in OAU is already stressful, don’t make it worse. Reintroduce bikes, simple.
6 days later, nothing has changed.
Lectures were boycotted for 72 hours, but it had no real effect.
This is the longest queue I have ever experienced since I came to the school 4 years ago.
OAU is slowly becoming Unilorin.
PS: Those who forcefully implemented this on us all have their private cars, so this doesn't affect them in any way.