By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Calabar Branch, has called for a transparent investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing of a 22-year-old preacher, Moses Mba, by policemen attached to the former residence of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu.
Mba was reportedly shot on August 1, 2025, after requesting permission to preach to the governor at his former residence in the State Housing area of Calabar. He succumbed to his injuries on August 9 while receiving treatment in hospital.
The incident sparked outrage among residents and on social media, with the victim’s family demanding justice.
In a letter dated September 8 and addressed to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, the NBA condemned the killing and described it as a serious breach of public trust. The letter, signed by branch chairman Enomes Amatey, said:
“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. More worrisome is the fact that the Nigeria Police Force, which is saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians, is now found at the ugly end of the incident.”
The association also criticised alleged attempts to label Mba as mentally ill, calling it an “affront to his dignity” and an apparent attempt to shield those responsible from accountability.
The NBA demanded an immediate and independent investigation into the killing, accountability for the officers involved, and protection for Mba’s mother, Victoria Mba.
It stressed that justice in the case was essential to restoring public confidence in the police.
