Picture: President General of Ohanaeze, Senator Azuta Mbata in a group photograph with Members of Igbo Lawyers.
BY CHUKWUMA CHIBUEZE, Owerri
Otu Oka-Iwu ((association of Igbo Lawyers) has expressed its desire for stronger legal partnership with Ohanaeze Ndigbo on ala igbo development, restructuring and legegislative advocacy.
This was made known through a statement made available to newsmen, by Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, Global Publicity Secretary ofOhanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The call was made on Thursday 27th August 2026 in Porthacourt Rivers State, when the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Senator Azuta-Mbata received a delegation of the group led by its Abuja President, Sir Chidi Udekwe, Esq.
The group which was in Port Harcourt for the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference, paid the courtesy visit on the President General at his residence and used the occasion to convey the solidarity and goodwill of Igbo legal practitioners across the country.
During the engagement, Otu Oka-Iwu expressed its willingness to deploy its professional expertise in support of the Ohanaeze agenda, particularly in areas requiring legal advocacy, protection of Igbo interests and businesses, human rights, constitutional reforms and legislative engagement.
The lawyers emphasised the need for stronger legal mechanisms to protect Igbo-owned businesses and investments, particularly in situations involving seemingly discriminatory policies, arbitrary levies, demolitions and other practices capable of undermining legitimate economic activities of Ndigbo across Nigeria.
They also identified constitutional restructuring and legislative advocacy as important areas for collaboration with Ohanaeze.
The proposed partnership would seek to contribute professional and legal expertise to the continuing conversation on a more equitable and restructured Nigerian federation, while supporting legislative initiatives that promote the economic, political and social interests of Ndigbo in a country where justice and fairness are served to all citizens.
Another area highlighted was the protection of the fundamental rights and welfare of Igbo youths and communities, with Otu Oka-Iwu indicating its readiness to contribute legal expertise where necessary to promote access to justice and protect citizens from unlawful treatment and other forms of injustice.
The delegation further informed the President General of the apprenticeship and mentorship model adopted by Otu Oka-Iwu for young lawyers in Abuja, aimed at providing practical professional development and preparing a new generation of competent legal practitioners. Senator Azuta-Mbata welcomed the initiative and pledged his support.
Responding, the President General thanked the delegation for the courtesy visit and commended Otu Oka-Iwu for recognising the importance of professional collaboration in the advancement of Ndigbo and the nation at large.
Senator Azuta-Mbata noted that the challenges confronting Ndigbo require the collective contribution of professionals, intellectuals, business leaders, political actors and other stakeholders.
He welcomed the willingness of Otu Oka-Iwu to partner with Ohanaeze and stressed that the legal profession has a particularly important role to play in translating legitimate aspirations of the people into effective advocacy, sound policy and enforceable rights.
The President General assured the delegation that Ohanaeze Ndigbo would continue to welcome credible professional partnerships that strengthen the organisation's capacity to serve and protect the collective interests of Ndigbo, while encouraging Otu Oka-Iwu to sustain its commitment to mentorship, professionalism and service to the Igbo nation.
The delegation included Sir Chidi Udekwe, Esq., President, Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja; Joseph Ekwueme of the Rivers State Chapter; Innocent Onyeukwu of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter; Chukwuma Obi, Welfare Secretary, Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja and other members of the Rivers and Akwa Ibom State Chapters.
The President General received the delegation in the company of Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, Global Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
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