A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb, has issued a reflective New Year message calling on political leaders, members of the legal profession, and the general public to embrace conscience-driven leadership and a renewed sense of responsibility as the country steps into 2026. He described the New Year as more than a symbolic transition, urging Nigerians to use the moment to re-examine their values, commitments, and collective duty to nation-building.
In the message, Akangbe stressed that political power remains a public trust that must be exercised in the interest of the masses, particularly in improving living standards and strengthening democratic governance. He also challenged members of the Bar and the Bench to recommit themselves to the delivery of swift, fair, and fearless justice, noting that justice delayed or denied weakens public confidence and undermines societal progress.
Read full statement below;
As we step into the New Year, I extend warm reflections to members of the Nigerian Bar and to the general public. A new year is not merely a change of date. It is a summons to conscience. It invites us to examine not only where we stand, but what we stand for.
I urge the political class to remember that power is a trust, not an entitlement. Policies and actions must be directed towards building a better society and upgrading the living standards of the Nigerian masses. History teaches with quiet firmness that no one lives forever. Titles fade, offices pass, but impact endures. It is the good we do, and the justice we enthrone, that will speak for us long after we are gone.
To my colleagues at the Bar and our noble partners on the Bench, the year 2026 must be a year of renewed commitment to true and impactful justice. Justice delayed and justice denied both wound society. There can be no better nation without justice that is swift, fair, and fearless.
May this year deepen our sense of duty and enlarge our humanity.
Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb.
Former Chairman NBA Lagos Branch
