I received with deep sadness the tragic news of the gruesome killing of Mr. Innocent Igho, a legal practitioner and member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, in Delta State last week.
A lawyer’s life is not just his own; it belongs also to his family, to the Bar, and to society at large. To take such a life violently is to wound us all. The Port Harcourt Branch has lost a brother, the Bar has lost a servant of justice, and his family has lost what can never be replaced.
In moments like this, words often fail. Yet, even in our sorrow, we must insist that justice be done. I therefore call on the Nigeria Police Force and all relevant security agencies to urgently investigate this heinous crime, ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended, and bring them to justice without delay. Anything less would be a further assault on the values we hold dear.
To the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA, I share in your grief. To his family, I extend heartfelt condolences. And to the Bar at large, let us remember that the work we do is noble, but it is carried out in a land where life is often cheapened. That reality must not silence us, nor bend our commitment to justice.
May the soul of Mr. Innocent Igho find rest.
Signed
LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE SAN FCIARB(UK)
Former Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch
