The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has issued a strong statement commending the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its recent resolution against the misuse of criminal law enforcement in civil and defamation matters.
The commendation follows the NBA NEC meeting held on May 7, 2026, in Awka, where the legal body expressed deep concern over the increasing deployment of police powers to intimidate and prosecute individuals over reputational injuries. RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, stated that the organisation fully aligns with the NBA’s stance, noting that the trend of using police for private grievances has reached a troubling peak.
“RULAAC fully aligns with the position adopted by the NBA NEC,” Nwanguma said in the official statement. “We have consistently maintained that the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies should not be converted into debt recovery agents, tools for enforcing private interests, or instruments for the criminalisation of speech and civil disputes.”
The advocacy group specifically pointed to recent reports of arrests linked to a viral social media publication involving businessman Tony Elumelu. RULAAC argued that these incidents highlight a pattern where influential individuals weaponise the state’s coercive powers to suppress dissent. The organisation emphasised that defamation remains primarily a civil matter, providing adequate remedies through litigation and damages rather than incarceration.
According to RULAAC, the arbitrary arrest of citizens based on petitions alleging reputational harm—without disclosing a recognizable criminal offense—violates constitutional guarantees of personal liberty and freedom of expression. The group warned that such actions divert scarce policing resources away from genuine criminal activity and fuel a culture of impunity and selective justice.
“The misuse of criminal processes in such cases contributes to the erosion of public confidence in law enforcement institutions,” Nwanguma noted. “Law enforcement institutions must resist pressure from powerful individuals seeking to use state coercive powers to settle private scores or silence critics.”
In addition to its commendation, RULAAC joined the NBA in demanding the immediate release of any individuals currently detained solely in connection with publications that do not constitute a lawful criminal offense. The center urged the Nigeria Police Force to exercise professionalism and fidelity to the rule of law, stressing that the defense of constitutional democracy is paramount.
Nwanguma concluded by describing the NBA’s intervention as courageous and necessary, reaffirming that RULAAC stands in solidarity with all stakeholders committed to ending the abuse of criminal justice processes across the federation.
