The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, have agreed to deepen collaboration between the Police and the legal profession to reduce recurring friction and strengthen justice delivery in Nigeria.
The commitment was sealed on Tuesday when Badejo-Okusanya and members of the NBA National Executive Committee paid a courtesy visit to the IGP at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the meeting focused on stronger professional collaboration, improved communication and greater mutual respect between the Police and the legal profession.
Iniedu said the NBA President stressed the need for closer synergy between both institutions, particularly through specialised training for lawyers and improved engagement between police lawyers and members of the wider Bar.
He said Badejo-Okusanya emphasised the responsibility of the NBA to remain responsive to the needs of its members across the country while advocating an end to recurring clashes between lawyers and police officers.
“The NBA President stressed that both professions have complementary responsibilities within the justice system and called for greater cooperation in the discharge of their respective duties,” Iniedu said.
The Force PRO said the NBA President also highlighted a UNICEF-supported initiative on children’s access to justice, under which the association is proposing the presence of a police lawyer at every police station to provide appropriate legal support to children who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
According to her, the proposal underscores the need to ensure that vulnerable children receive adequate support and protection throughout the justice process.
Responding, the IGP congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her emergence as NBA President and described the engagement as an opportunity to build a stronger and more structured relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the legal profession.
Disu stressed that respect for every individual, office and profession must remain fundamental to professional interactions.
“The IGP noted that while lawyers are principally concerned with protecting citizens’ rights and the Police with protecting lives and property, the responsibilities of both institutions converge in the administration of justice,” Iniedu said.
The IGP also called for greater professionalism and responsibility in the recording and dissemination of encounters involving police officers.
He cautioned against subjecting police personnel to ridicule or trivialising the demanding circumstances of their duties for social media entertainment, particularly when officers operate under challenging conditions in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
Iniedu said the IGP identified improved professional engagement, measures to reduce delays in criminal trials and the establishment of a dedicated NPF/NBA mechanism for seamless and open communication as key areas requiring sustained collaboration.
According to him, the proposed mechanism would provide a structured channel for addressing professional concerns, improving coordination and resolving issues before they escalate into unnecessary confrontations.
The IGP reaffirmed that the Police and the legal profession are partners in the pursuit of justice, acknowledging that disagreements may arise in the course of their respective duties.
He, however, stressed that such differences must be managed professionally, respectfully and with civility, while expressing his readiness to work with the new NBA leadership towards a stronger and more productive partnership.
The Force PRO said the Nigeria Police Force remained committed to strengthening collaboration with the NBA and other justice-sector stakeholders to protect fundamental rights, improve access to justice, promote professionalism and build a more effective, responsive and trusted criminal justice system.
