RismadarVoice Reporters
June 5, 2026
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to strengthen efforts aimed at enforcing discipline, ethical conduct and professional standards among legal practitioners across the country.
The governor made the call on Thursday while receiving renowned Kenyan lawyer, activist and scholar, Professor Patrick Lumumba, and his wife, Mrs Celestine Lumumba, at Government House, Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, Diri spoke during a visit by the leadership of the NBA Yenagoa Branch and Prof. Lumumba, who is in the state to deliver the keynote address at the plenary session of the association’s 2026 Law Week.
The governor stressed the need for the NBA to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in safeguarding the ethical values and professional integrity of the legal profession.
He warned that failure to uphold professional standards could further erode the respect and prestige traditionally associated with the legal profession.
Diri, however, commended the Yenagoa branch of the NBA for its commitment to legal scholarship, public engagement and professional excellence, noting that the 2026 Law Week provides a platform for meaningful dialogue capable of strengthening democratic institutions and inspiring positive change.
He urged members of the association to use the conference as an opportunity for self-assessment and reflection on global best practices in legal practice and professional conduct.
The governor also described Prof. Lumumba as a respected advocate of good governance, accountability, principled leadership and Pan-African development, and encouraged him to consider Bayelsa as a second home.
In his remarks, Prof. Lumumba said Nigeria remains a key player on the African continent and possesses the capacity to drive the continent’s development and progress.
According to him, whenever Nigeria fully harnesses its potential and leadership role, the entire continent stands to benefit.
The former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission thanked the Bayelsa State Government for the warm reception and noted that it was his second visit to the state, which he described as strategically located and rich in development prospects.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the NBA Yenagoa Branch, Mr Clement Kekemeke, said Prof. Lumumba was invited as keynote speaker for the Law Week to provide international visibility and broaden discussions on legal and governance issues.
Kekemeke also expressed appreciation to Governor Diri and Deputy Governor Akpe for receiving the delegation and disclosed that the Yenagoa branch currently has more than 1,500 practising lawyers, making it one of the largest NBA branches in the South-South region.
