EX APPEAL COURT JURIST DANIEL KALIO TO CHAIR NBA PH ANTI-GRAFT CONFERENCE TOMORROW

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, is set to host a high-level Anti-Corruption Seminar themed “Strengthening Integrity in the Legal Profession: The Role of Lawyers in Combating Corruption in Nigeria.”

The seminar is scheduled to hold tomorrow, Tuesday, 19th May, 2026, by 12 noon at the NBA House, No. 1 Bank Road, Port Harcourt.

A statement made available to CITY LAWYER notes that “The seminar aims to bring together legal practitioners, judicial officers, law enforcement agencies, stakeholders in the justice sector, and members of the public to engage in meaningful discourse on the urgent need to uphold integrity and professional ethics within the legal profession and the Nigerian society at large.

“As corruption continues to pose a serious threat to national development, the rule of law, and public confidence in institutions, the role of lawyers in promoting accountability, transparency, and justice has become increasingly significant.

“This seminar is designed to address these concerns by examining the ethical obligations of legal practitioners and the practical steps lawyers can take in combating corruption within and outside the justice system.

“The event will feature distinguished personalities and respected voices within the legal and public sectors, including
His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Executive Governor of Rivers State, as Special Guest of Honour;
Hon. Justice Obie Daniel Kalio, JCA (Rtd), Chairman of the Occasion;
Hon. Justice (Dr.) D. J. Stephens, Keynote Speaker;
A. S. Abdulkadir, SAN, Speaker;
Cordelia Uwuma Eke, FICMC, MSM, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch; and
Geoffrey O. A. Joseph, Esq., Chairman of the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee.”

The seminar will also feature participation from major anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force.

The statement noted that “This initiative reflects the commitment of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, to promoting ethical legal practice, strengthening institutional integrity, and encouraging lawyers to remain defenders of justice and the rule of law.

“Members of the legal profession, law students, public officers, civil society organizations, and interested members of the public are encouraged to attend and participate in this important conversation aimed at building a more accountable and corruption-free society.

“For further information and participation inquiries, interested persons may contact the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch.”

Justice Kalio has been nicknamed “The Incorruptible Judge” against the backdrop of his reputation as a highly ethical judicial officer.

He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State in 1995. At the High Court, he distinguished himself, having been honoured twice by NBA Port Harcourt, first with the maiden award of “Best Judge of Rivers State” and subsequently as “Judge of the Year.”

While at the High Court, he headed the Commission of Enquiry into the community crisis in Ogbakiri, Rivers State. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2012. At the Court of Appeal, he served as a member of the Rules Committee of the Court of Appeal and member of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers.

He served in the Ibadan, Kaduna and Lagos Divisions of the Court of Appeal and in the Awka and Asaba Divisions of that Court as the Presiding Justice. Cumulatively, he has been a judge on the higher bench for three decades. During that period he has written hundreds of judgments in almost every aspect of the law.

In recognition of his services to the nation, the jurist was in 2023 conferred with the coveted national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR.

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