Benin City, Nigeria – 11th June, 2025
The Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) has raised serious concerns over alleged threats to the safety and lives of members of its legal team by the Edo State Government.
In a petition dated 11th June 2025 and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Prince Ezekwesiri Nwauwa Esq. of Duke Royal Chambers, who serves as legal counsel to NBM, called for urgent intervention by security agencies to forestall any breach of peace and to safeguard the lives of legal practitioners involved in the ongoing litigation between the organization and the Edo State Government.
According to the petition, which was also copied to the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prince Nwauwa cited “credible intelligence” suggesting a coordinated plan by agents and proxies of the Edo State Government to launch attacks on the NBM legal team.
The planned attacks are allegedly timed to coincide with a scheduled court hearing at the Federal High Court, Benin City, on Monday, 16th June 2025.
The petition further referenced the demolition of NBM’s International Secretariat in April 2025, an incident that is currently the subject of the litigation.
It warns of alleged plans to deploy thugs and provocateurs, including women dressed in a manner meant to incite confrontation, to harass and physically assault the legal team outside the court premises.
More troubling, the petition alleges a plot to locate and arrest members of the legal team at their hotels upon arrival in Benin City, raising significant concerns about the safety of legal professionals performing their lawful duties.
Prince Nwauwa described the situation as a “dangerous descent into lawlessness and impunity”, warning that such actions constitute a direct affront to the Nigerian legal system and an attack on the rule of law.
“This is a very serious threat to the rule of law, which MUST NOT BE ALLOWED in our land,” the petition reads. “We, therefore, most humbly beckon you, sir, in line with your statutory mandate, to protect lives and property.”
The petition requests immediate deployment of security personnel to the Federal High Court in Benin City to prevent any disruption of court proceedings and to maintain law and order.
As of the time of this publication, the Edo State Government has not issued any official response to the allegations.
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