The Calabar Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a formal demand to the State Commissioner of Police for an immediate, thorough, and public investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing of 22-year-old Moses Mba by police officers.
In a strongly-worded letter dated September 8th, 2025, and seen by our newsroom, the legal body expressed deep concern over the incident, which reportedly occurred on August 1st at the State Housing Estate in Calabar.
The NBA’s letter states that the young man was allegedly shot by officers under the command of the Cross River State Police Commissioner. The association condemned the act, highlighting the irony of a force “saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property” being “found at the ugly end of the incident.”
The legal practitioners raised further alarm over what they described as an “affront to [the] dignity” of the deceased, citing a “reported attempt to stigmatize the deceased as mentally ill without credible evidence.” The NBA labeled this an “apparent effort to subvert the truth and exculpate the officers responsible,” a tactic they declared “unacceptable.”
To ensure transparency and accountability, the NBA Calabar Branch made six specific demands:
- An immediate, comprehensive, and transparent investigation conducted to the highest professional standard.
- That the findings of this investigation be made public to restore faith in the justice system.
- The immediate protection for the family of the deceased, specifically Mrs. Victoria Mba, who has faced alleged intimidation and harassment in her quest for justice.
- An immediate end to any attempts to label the deceased as mentally ill in the absence of verifiable medical evidence.
- That the NBA be included in any independent panel of enquiry to monitor proceedings.
- That the NBA be furnished with a copy of the final police investigation report.
The letter concluded with a firm reiteration of the Association’s commitment to the rule of law, warning that they “will not hesitate to take further necessary legal steps” to secure justice for Moses Mba and his family if their demands are not met.
The Cross River State Police Command has yet to issue a public response to the NBA’s demands. This case is being closely watched as a critical test of police accountability and transparency in Nigeria.
