The Citizens Liberties Committee (National) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the unlawful arrest and detention of a legal practitioner, Mr. Uba Sani Hamza, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center.
Mr. Hamza was reportedly arrested on 22nd September, 2025 at the Norman’s Land Magistrate Court in Kano while carrying out his professional duties, and was subsequently taken to Abuja. The police allegedly acted on the baseless grounds that he shares a surname with a suspect accused of insulting government officials on social media and for maintaining professional contact with a client sought by the authorities.
In a statement signed by Nuhu J. Egya, Chairman of the Citizens Liberties Committee (National), NBA, the arrest was described as “without legal foundation and a gross abuse of police powers.”
Egya noted that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) expressly guarantees the right to personal liberty under Section 35 and the right to a fair hearing under Section 36. Arresting a lawyer for performing his professional duties, he stressed, violates these constitutional provisions, undermines the independence of the legal profession, and offends the rule of law.
Through the urgent intervention of the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee, Mr. Hamza was released on 24th September, 2025. However, the Committee described the incident as a “disturbing reminder” of the increasing harassment of lawyers by security agencies.
The Committee called on the Attorney General of the Federation to urgently investigate the abuse and hold the Inspector General of Police accountable. “The NBA will not stand idly by while lawyers are harassed, intimidated, or unlawfully deprived of their liberty. The protection of lawyers is inseparable from the protection of the rule of law and access to justice for all citizens,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights of lawyers, the Citizens Liberties Committee vowed to ensure that such infractions are never repeated.
Signed:
Nuhu J. Egya
Chairman, Citizens Liberties Committee (National), NBA
Past Chairman, NBA Keffi Branch
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