The legal community has been thrown into mourning following the brutal killing of Somtochukwu Christelle-Maduagwu, a young lawyer and broadcaster whose life was tragically cut short. In a strongly worded statement, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing the loss as not only personal but a painful reflection of Nigeria’s growing insecurity.
Akangbe condemned the circumstances surrounding her death, urging security agencies to act swiftly in apprehending the perpetrators. He emphasized that the murder should not become “another nameless statistic” in Nigeria’s catalogue of tragedies, stressing that justice must be pursued to reaffirm the sanctity of human life and restore public confidence in the nation’s justice system.
Read full statement below;
I received with deep shock and sorrow the tragic news of the murder of Somtochukwu Christelle -Maduagwu, a young lawyer, a newscaster, a bright light full of promise, cut down in the bloom of her years. I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues at the Bar, and the media community. Grief such as this cannot be measured in words, but it can be shared, and today we all share in their pain.
Her death is not just the loss of one life. It is a mirror held up to our nation, reflecting the frightening ease with which lives are wasted on our streets. It is a question posed to us all: what worth is the Nigerian project if we cannot guarantee the safety of our people? A state that cannot protect life or punish those who recklessly take it chips away at its very foundation.
We cannot continue like this. I call on our security agencies to act with urgency. In places where justice breathes, the law moves swiftly, not just to apprehend culprits, but to reassure the living that their lives matter. Nigeria must learn to do the same. I urge the Inspector General of Police and all relevant authorities to treat this case as a defining moment for their commitment to justice and to the protection of innocent lives.
Somtochukwu’s death must not dissolve into another nameless statistic in our book of national tragedies. Her blood cries out for justice, and we must not turn away. To honour her memory, her killers must be found, prosecuted, and punished. Only then can we say with truth that justice still walks among us and that in Nigeria human life still holds meaning.
Signed:
LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE, SAN, FCIArb(UK)
Former Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch
