Scores of voters from Enugu South Urban Constituency on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Enugu, demanding the release of Barr. Bright Ngene, a Labour Party (LP) candidate.

Ngene, who won the Enugu South 1 State Constituency seat in the 2023 general elections, was also declared winner of the constituency’s rerun election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Tuesday.

However, he has remained in custody at the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre since July 28, 2024, after an Enugu South Magistrates’ Court sentenced him to seven years in prison for alleged conspiracy and stealing.

The protesters accused the Enugu State Government of orchestrating Ngene’s imprisonment and intimidating judges from hearing his appeal.

“The charges brought against him are baseless, and the judicial process was not followed. Judgment was delivered in less than two weeks, and since then, judges have consistently recused themselves from the case,” protest leader Akachukwu Benedict told journalists.

He added that despite repeated appeals for the case to be assigned to a judge, the matter has remained in limbo.

“On March 11, 2025, a judge requested the Magistrate Court judgment but later recused himself on the same day. Since then, no judge has taken up the case. This is the highest form of injustice,” Benedict said.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Injustice Anywhere is Injustice Everywhere: Free Barr. Bright Ngene,” “NBA, It’s Bright Ngene Today, Another Lawyer Tomorrow,” and “Say No to Miscarriage of Justice.”

They appealed to the NBA, as well as senior lawyers including Femi Falana and Monday Ubani, who were present at the conference, to intervene.

“We are not here to fight; we are here to beg. Please let this man be freed so he can represent the people who voted for him,” Benedict pleaded.

The protesters argued that the judiciary in Enugu has been compromised by executive interference, warning that Ngene’s continued detention undermines democracy and the rule of law.