By Ibrahim Muhammad Kano The Nigerian Bar Association, Ungogo Branch, Kano state has opened its 2026 Law Week with a call for st...
By Ibrahim Muhammad Kano
The Nigerian Bar Association, Ungogo Branch, Kano state has opened its 2026 Law Week with a call for stronger legal frameworks, judicial independence, and greater investment in technology to address Nigeria’s growing insecurity challenges.
The week-long event began in Kano on, with the theme _“The Role of Law and Technology in Addressing Insecurity in Contemporary Nigeria.”
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the branch, Ahmad Abubakar Gwadabe, said the gathering was more than a ceremony but a convergence of professionals and institutions committed to justice, peace, and national development.
Gwadabe said insecurity remained one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges, citing kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime, terrorism, drug abuse, and political thuggery as threats that continue to evolve. He singled out political thuggery as a major factor undermining democratic values and exposing youths to violence, and called for stronger laws, effective law enforcement, political responsibility, and public enlightenment to curb the menace.
“The Judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and one of the strongest pillars in the fight against insecurity,” Gwadabe said. “A strong, courageous, impartial and truly independent Judiciary is indispensable to the survival of democracy and the maintenance of law and order.”
He stressed that financial autonomy of the judiciary was critical to its independence, noting that the Supreme Court and the President had publicly affirmed it as essential for effective justice delivery. Without financial autonomy, he warned, the judiciary risked pressure and limitations that could erode public confidence.
Gwadabe also urged judges and judicial officers to discharge their duties with courage, fairness, and integrity, saying public confidence in the courts depended on impartial conduct and consistency in upholding justice.
The NBA chairman commended security agencies, including the Police, Military, Civil Defence, DSS, and Correctional Services, for their sacrifices, but said they needed more support through improved welfare, training, and modern technological tools for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and forensic investigation.
“Modern insecurity requires modern solutions,” he said. “Government must invest more in digital security systems, cybercrime monitoring, forensic laboratories, communication technology, data intelligence and modern investigative equipment.”
On the role of lawyers, Gwadabe said the legal profession had a duty to promote justice, defend constitutional rights, and ensure that security operations stayed within the law. He also called for improved welfare and salary structures for state counsel and government lawyers, saying better conditions would enhance efficiency.
He commended the Kano State Government for its efforts to strengthen security, particularly the establishment of neighbourhood watch structures, but urged that such initiatives be backed with proper training, supervision, and operational support.
Gwadabe further urged federal, state, and local governments to tackle unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, and lack of education, which he described as major drivers of insecurity.
The Law Week, he said, would provide a platform for reflection, exchange of ideas, and recommendations to strengthen national security, institutional reforms, and the administration of justice.
The event was attended by the Kano State chief justice Dije Aboki members of the Bench and Bar, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, security chiefs, traditional and religious leaders, and other dignitaries.
Gwadabe thanked participants for attending despite their busy schedules and expressed hope that the deliberations would be fruitful and impactful.
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