Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, SAN, has been confirmed as Lead Speaker at the 2026 Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode Branch Annual Lecture, scheduled for Thursday, July 9.
Chairman of the NBA Ijebu-Ode Branch, Professor Fassy Yusuf, disclosed this at a press conference held at the Bamofin Ade Adedeji Bar Centre in the premises of the Ogun State High Court, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, commencing the schedule of activities of the branch’s 28th Annual Week.
The theme of the 2026 NBA Annual Week is “Strengthening the Rule of Law in a Democratic Nigeria”, which is also the theme of the lecture to be delivered by Femi Falana, SAN. The lecture will include a panel discussion featuring Justice Omoniyi of the Ijebu-Ode High Court, academics, and distinguished legal practitioners.
Professor Fassy Yusuf, while fielding questions from journalists, identified three major threats to the Rule of Law in Nigeria, including “executive recklessness”, an unbothered citizenry, and a lack of respect for law enforcement agents and judicial officers. He particularly decried the habit of Nigerians “not speaking up to say something when they see something” if they are not directly affected by an issue.
The NBA Ijebu-Ode Chairman lamented the tendency of some Nigerians to disrespect law enforcement officers and always wanting to bribe their way out of any situation. He also noted that many citizens are not observant of the law, and do not allow law enforcement officers and judicial officers to do their jobs.
Professor Yusuf, while acknowledging the many problems of leadership in Nigeria, said that Nigerians as followers have also contributed to the state of the nation. He challenged citizens to be good followers by obeying the law and fulfilling their civic responsibilities.
He said, “The Nigerian State is a work in progress. We are currently enjoying the longest streak of democracy. If we can sustain the current tempo, we will be better off in 5-10 years. Rome was not built in a day; what we are witnessing now are issues that have accumulated over the years. Resolving them is not a tea party.
“What is governance? It is leadership and followership. While we are blaming the leadership for things that are not working, we should also, as followers, ask, ‘What are we doing or contributing to the disorderliness in the society?’ Someone breaking the law, not obeying traffic rules, not carrying out their civic responsibility, evading tax are all problems of both leadership and followership. Let’s see ourselves as part of the society; whether in government or out of government, we must contribute our part.”
The 2026 NBA Ijebu-Ode Annual Week, which began on Friday, July 3, with the press conference, culminates with the Annual Bar Dinner and Award ceremony on Friday, July 10.
Other activities include a Jumat Service at the Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque on Friday, July 3, a fitness exercise at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, on Saturday, July 4, and a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, July 5, at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Italowajoda-Ijasi.
On Monday, July 6, the NBA Ijebu-Ode Branch will visit the Nigeria Police Force Area Commands in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo, and Ogbere as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Tuesday, July 7, will witness the official commissioning and dedication of the NBA Ijebu-Ode Branch Bar Centre donated by the Bamofin of Ijebu, Chief Aderibigbe Adedeji, SAN. Professor Yusuf said that Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, members of the State Executive Council, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, other judges and magistrates, and legal practitioners are expected to attend the dedication of the Bar Centre.
The NBA Annual Week continues on Wednesday, July 8, with a novelty football match between NBA Ijebu-Ode All Stars and NBA Abeokuta Branch Football Team. This is followed by the highlight of the Annual Week, the Annual Lecture, on Thursday, July 9.
The NBA Ijebu-Ode Branch Annual Week comes to an end on Friday, July 10, with the Annual Bar Dinner, Awards, and swearing-in of members of the new 2026-2028 Executive Committee, who will administer the affairs of the Branch for the next two years. The awards ceremony is expected to be attended by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, members of the State Executive Council, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, judges, magistrates, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and legal practitioners.
According to the organisers, the Annual Law Week is a “statutory event” of the Nigeria Bar Association to review the state of the nation, especially matters affecting the administration of justice. The Law Week also provides a platform to address contemporary legal issues and engage in activities that promote the advancement of the legal profession.
