The Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Branch, has demanded a public and transparent probe into the alleged extrajudicial killing of 22-year-old Moses Mba by policemen guarding the former residence of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu.
Mba was reportedly shot on August 1, 2025, at the State Housing area of Calabar after he requested to preach to the governor. He later died on August 9 at a hospital where he was receiving treatment.
The incident triggered outrage among residents and widespread calls for justice across social media platforms. His family has continued to press for accountability.
In a letter dated September 8 and addressed to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, the NBA described the killing as unacceptable and damaging to public trust in law enforcement.
“The NBA Calabar Branch, committed to its core mandate of upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, and ensuring justice, is deeply troubled by the reported circumstances surrounding this incident,” the association’s Chairman, Enomes Amatey, wrote.
The lawyers further condemned alleged attempts to portray the victim as mentally unstable, calling it “an affront to his dignity and an apparent effort to subvert the truth and exculpate the officers responsible.”
The NBA warned that the police, constitutionally charged with protecting lives and property, should not be implicated in acts that undermine citizens’ safety.
The association demanded “an immediate, comprehensive, and independent investigation into the incident,” while also calling for protection of the victim’s mother, Victoria Mba.
It stressed that justice for the late preacher would serve as a test of accountability and help restore waning confidence in law enforcement agencies
