The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), through its National Litigation Committee, has filed a ₦500 million civil lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking exemplary and punitive damages against four individuals accused of physically assaulting a legal practitioner, Barrister John Boluwaji Ajiki.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, July 7, 2025, names Williams Raymond, Fidelis Emmanuel Jacob, Sharon Alexander, and Itoro Dominic Robert as defendants. According to the NBA, the incident amounted to an unlawful assault and a gross violation of Ajiki’s fundamental human rights.
This civil action comes in addition to ongoing criminal proceedings at the Zone 6 Magistrate Court in Abuja, where the four accused persons have already been arraigned and remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna.
In a statement issued by Isah Abubakar Aliyu, Secretary of the NBA National Litigation Committee, the Association said the parallel civil and criminal proceedings underscore its unwavering commitment to defending the safety and dignity of its members.
“The Nigerian Bar Association will not tolerate attacks on its members. This case underscores our firm resolve to protect the dignity, safety, and rights of all lawyers within the Nigerian legal system,” Aliyu stated.
He further emphasized that the legal profession must not be subjected to intimidation or violence, reaffirming the NBA’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and defending lawyers against harassment in the line of duty.
