Condolence Message from Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN
It is with profound sorrow and a deeply burdened heart that I mourn the tragic and senseless killing of our colleague, Barrister Ifeanyi Rolex Iloakasia, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Otuocha Branch, who was brutally assassinated on May 15, 2025, while returning from court.
This barbaric act is not only a painful loss to his family and the NBA Otuocha Branch but a direct attack on the legal profession, the sanctity of the courts, and the rule of law itself. Barrister Iloakasia was a bright, promising legal mind whose dedication to justice and professional conduct earned him the admiration of many. His life, so cruelly cut short, is another devastating reminder of the rising insecurity plaguing our society.
I stand in solidarity with the Committee of Chairmen of the NBA Anambra State Chapter, who have responded with courage and moral clarity in condemning this atrocity. I commend the swift visit and response of the Anambra State Commissioner of Police to the crime scene and support the call for a thorough investigation and swift justice. It is imperative that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice without delay.
We cannot continue to lose our colleagues to mindless violence. The time has come for decisive action to protect members of the legal community who serve the pillars of justice in our society.
I also wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of Barr. Iloakasia, the NBA Otuocha Branch, and the wider legal fraternity in Anambra State. May his soul find eternal rest, and may justice speak loudly and clearly on his behalf.
As lawyers, we must never relent in our advocacy for peace, accountability, and justice. I stand with you all during this time of mourning and protest.
Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, FCIArb (UK), FCIMC
Life Bencher
Past General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association
