By Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gombe Branch, on Friday commenced its 2026 Law Week with interfaith prayers, with its leadership advocating far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s justice system and ensuring equal access to justice for all citizens.
The special prayer session, held at the Modibbo Bubayero Central Mosque in Gombe, brought together Muslim and Christian legal practitioners to seek divine guidance ahead of the week’s activities.
Speaking after the event, the Chairman of the NBA Gombe Branch, Barrister Alhassan Mu’azu, said this year’s Law Week would focus on promoting reforms capable of making the justice sector more efficient, inclusive and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
According to him, the association seeks to ensure that the justice system serves every citizen without prejudice.
“We want a justice system that works for everyone the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated without segregation or discrimination,” he said.
Mu’azu also described the sermon delivered during the prayer session as timely and instructive, reminding lawyers of their ethical obligations as custodians of their clients’ trust.
Delivering the sermon, the Deputy Chief Imam of the Modibbo Bubayero Central Mosque, Barrister Ali Hammari, urged members of the legal profession to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
Barrister Hammari noted that the legal profession remains a noble calling established to promote justice, fairness and the protection of society.
However, he expressed concern that some practitioners had reduced the profession to a mere avenue for financial gain without considering the moral consequences of their actions.
He reminded lawyers that beyond worldly recognition and material success, they would ultimately account before Almighty God for how they handled the responsibilities entrusted to them.
“The legal profession is honourable, but its practitioners must never lose sight of their duty to humanity and their accountability before God. Wealth and status should never take precedence over justice and truth,” he admonished.
The cleric urged lawyers to resist every form of temptation associated with their profession and remain committed to fairness, diligence and ethical conduct.
He also offered prayers for the success of the 2026 Law Week and asked God to grant legal practitioners wisdom, courage and sincerity as they continue to serve society through the administration of justice.
Also speaking, Chairperson of the 2026 Law Week Planning Committee, Barrister Hannatu Dauda Simon, said the decision to begin the programme with interfaith prayers was aimed at fostering unity among members of the Bar and recognising the place of God in the pursuit of justice.
She described the gathering as a symbol of religious harmony and a demonstration that lawyers could serve as agents of positive change in society.
Simon said the theme of this year’s Law Week, “Strengthening Justice Through Reform: Lawyers as Agents of Change,” reflects the urgent need for reforms across critical sectors of national life, including security, taxation and the economy.
She added that the week-long activities would bring together legal practitioners and stakeholders from across the North-East to deliberate on the role of lawyers in advancing justice, promoting the rule of law and contributing to national development.
