The Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja, has “unequivocally” condemned the “harassment, intimidation and arrest” of its Treasurer, Mr. Monday Isah Adah, by the Nigerian Police Force.

In a statement by Messrs Alexander Ebi Edim and Echika Ejido, the branch chairman and secretary respectively, it stated that Adah was whisked away by operatives attached to the Police State Headquarters, Lafia, Nasarawa State, “while he was carrying out his professional duties at Magistrate Court No. 3, Lafia.”

The branch demanded “immediate and unconditional release of Monday Isah Adah, Esq., if he remains in police custody” as well as “An immediate investigation by the appropriate authorities into the circumstances leading to his harassment and arrest, including the identity and conduct of the police officers involved.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

NBA NYANYA-KARU BRANCH CONDEMNS HARASSMENT AND ARREST OF BRANCH TREASURER, MONDAY ISAH ADAH, ESQ., IN THE COURSE OF PROFESSIONAL DUTY

The Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja, unequivocally condemns the harassment, intimidation and arrest of the Branch Treasurer, Monday Isah Adah, Esq., by officers of the Nigerian Police Force attached to the Police State Headquarters, Lafia, Nasarawa State, while he was carrying out his professional duties at Magistrate Court No. 3, Lafia.

The Branch is reliably informed that Mr. Adah was performing his professional duty as counsel when he questioned the authority of police officers who sought to re-arrest his client within the court premises. Rather than address the issue through lawful and appropriate means, the officers allegedly subjected the lawyer to harassment and subsequently arrested him.

This conduct is wholly unacceptable, indefensible and constitutes a dangerous affront to the independence, dignity and professional freedom of the legal profession.

A lawyer appearing in court in representation of a client is performing an essential function in the administration of justice. The discharge of that responsibility necessarily requires counsel to question unlawful acts, challenge questionable procedures and insist upon due process. A lawyer cannot be expected to remain silent in the face of an alleged unlawful act merely because the persons involved are police officers.

The Nigerian Police Force is a law-enforcement institution and is itself bound by the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Police officers have no licence to intimidate, harass or arrest legal practitioners merely because counsel has questioned or challenged the exercise of police powers.

The courtroom must never become a hunting ground for lawyers. A lawyer must be able to represent his client fearlessly, without the threat of arrest, intimidation or physical harassment by law-enforcement officers.

The Nyanya-Karu Branch considers this incident particularly disturbing because it allegedly arose from the legitimate discharge of Mr. Adah’s professional responsibility. The exercise of professional advocacy is not a criminal offence. A disagreement between counsel and a police officer over the exercise of police powers cannot, without more, constitute a basis for the harassment or arrest of counsel.

We therefore state, in the strongest possible terms, that the Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch Abuja will not accept the harassment, intimidation or arbitrary arrest of its members in the course of their lawful professional duties.

OUR DEMANDS

In view of the foregoing, the Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja, hereby demands as follows:

1. The immediate and unconditional release of Monday Isah Adah, Esq., if he remains in police custody.

2 An immediate investigation by the appropriate authorities into the circumstances leading to his harassment and arrest, including the identity and conduct of the police officers involved.

3 A formal and unreserved apology to Mr. Adah for the harassment, intimidation and arrest in the course of his professional duties.

We further call upon the appropriate authorities of the Nigerian Police Force to remind their officers that lawyers are officers of the court and critical participants in the administration of justice. Professional disagreement between counsel and law-enforcement officers must be resolved within the bounds of the law and professional civility, and not through harassment, intimidation or arrest.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, will not stand by while any of its members is intimidated for doing his professional duty. The Branch shall deploy all lawful institutional and legal mechanisms available to it to protect Mr. Adah and uphold the independence and dignity of the legal profession.

The independence of the legal profession is fundamental to the rule of law. Where lawyers are intimidated into silence, the administration of justice is imperilled.

The Nyanya-Karu Branch therefore expects the Nigerian Police Force and all relevant authorities to act promptly, responsibly and decisively.

Lawyers must be free to represent their clients without fear, intimidation or harassment.

The legal profession must not be intimidated.

Signed:

Alexander Ebi Edim, Esq.
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja

Mazi Echika Ejido, Esq.
Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja
13 August 2026

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