In Defence of Democracy: A Salute to the Salt Bar

To the Chairman, Executives, Elders, and distinguished Members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abakaliki Branch,

I cannot but send warm felicitations for the just concluded 2026 Law Week with the theme: “The Judiciary and National Security: The Role of the Legal Profession in Safeguarding Democracy in Nigeria,” held from 29th April to 1st May, 2026.

In a season when democracy is both promise and pressure, this theme was not mere rhetoric, it was a summon. The judiciary remains the last sentinel of our freedoms, and the Bar, its conscience. When national security and civil liberties collide, it is the lawyer’s voice that must insist the law be both shield and scale.

The gathering of eminent jurists and thought leaders signaled that the Salt Bar understands this weight. I do hope the deliberations moves beyond dialogue into doctrine, forging practical paths that fortify our institutions, dignify our courts, and renew public faith in justice.

I salute the vision of the leadership and the discipline of the salt bar members in keeping the legal discourse alive and purposeful. May the event last the test of time for a more secure, and democratic Nigeria.

Congratulations!!!

Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam, Esq, ACIArb(UK), ANICArb, ACIS, AICMC, ACTI.