Bar Leader and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Vice President, Dr. Monday Ubani SAN has called for a safe, dignified and professionally supportive environment for legal practitioners, stressing that the independence of lawyers is essential to an effective justice system and the protection of the rule of law.

Ubani made the call while delivering the keynote address at the NBA Oron Branch Law Week held under the theme, “Legal Administration and Legal Practice in a Secured Environment.” The event also featured the foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed NBA Oron House, Bar Centre.

He said security in legal practice goes beyond the presence of security personnel or the provision of physical facilities. It includes protection from threats and intimidation, freedom from unlawful interference, safeguarding confidential information, digital security and institutional arrangements that protect the Association’s assets and ensure continuity beyond individual administrations.

According to him, lawyers must be able to discharge their professional responsibilities without fear of retaliation or intimidation, particularly when challenging unlawful conduct or representing clients whose interests may be unpopular with those in positions of authority.

He described the proposed NBA Oron House, Bar Centre as more than a building, saying it should become a professional home where lawyers can meet, exchange ideas, access continuing legal education and mentorship, and coordinate legal aid and public-interest initiatives.

Ubani, who also served as Chairman of the Occasion, urged the Branch to ensure that the facility is properly planned and equipped with functional meeting spaces, legal research resources, private consultation rooms, administrative offices, reliable utilities and appropriate security arrangements. He emphasised the need for accessibility for persons with disabilities and a sustainable maintenance plan.

Ubani stressed that the success of the project would depend not only on the quality of its construction but also on the integrity, transparency and accountability of those entrusted with its execution. He called for proper documentation of contributions and expenditure, regular progress reports, professional standards in procurement and construction, and a realistic plan for completion and long-term management.

He warned that the Centre must not become the personal property of any administration or faction, nor an exclusive facility for a privileged few. Rather, it should remain an enduring institutional asset that welcomes lawyers across generations and professional backgrounds.

Drawing on his experience in NBA leadership, including his service as Chairman of NBA Ikeja Branch, Second Vice-President of the Association and Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Ubani said the strength of the Bar lies in its members’ willingness to serve a common cause.

He urged members to place the collective interests of the profession above personal differences, electoral divisions and individual ambitions, noting that leadership tenures would end but institutions built on sound principles could endure for generations.

The senior lawyer also called for greater investment in younger practitioners, stressing that the Centre should provide opportunities for mentorship, practical training, professional development and continuing legal education. He noted that young lawyers face significant challenges, including the cost of establishing legal practice, the demands of technology, professional competition and the need to maintain ethical standards in a difficult economic environment.

According to him, a well-managed Bar Centre could help address some of these challenges while strengthening professional fellowship and preparing younger lawyers for greater responsibilities in the administration of justice.

Ubani also urged the Oron Branch to use the Centre as a platform for public service through legal awareness programmes, pro bono initiatives and constructive engagement on human rights, criminal justice reform, electoral integrity, constitutional governance and access to justice.

He maintained that the credibility of the legal profession should be measured not only by the respect lawyers command in courtrooms but also by the confidence ordinary citizens repose in them.

He appealed to members of the Bench, government, traditional institutions, corporate organisations, business leaders, philanthropic individuals and friends of the legal profession to support the project, while emphasising that constructive partnerships must not compromise the independence of the Bar.

Concluding, Ubani commended the leadership and members of NBA Oron Branch for initiating the project and urged them to sustain the commitment that had made the foundation-laying ceremony possible.

He said the ultimate value of the Centre would not be determined merely by the beauty of the completed structure, but by the lawyers it develops, the public it serves and the contribution it makes to justice and the rule of law.

He urged the Branch to build the project on the foundations of unity, integrity, transparency, accountability and service, expressing the hope that NBA Oron House would become a lasting symbol of professional excellence and institutional progress.

The Annual event was attended by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom Justice Ekaette F. Obot, represented by Justice Effiong Offiong of the State High Court; the Attorney General of the State, Uko Udom SAN, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry of Justice; several judges, Magistrates, Bar leaders from Eket, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, including Mr. Sammy Etuk.

The Chairman of the Branch, Ikara O. Ikara Esq thanked stakeholders for attending the event. The Annual Law Planning Committee had Chief Godwin Effiong as Chairman.

The foundation laying ceremony for the Bar Centre was done by Justice Effiong Effiong who stood in for the Chief Judge Ekaette Obot.

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