The Akure Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has urged the Ondo State Police Command to end the alleged harassment, intimidation and molestation of lawyers representing clients at police stations across the state.
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The association also challenged the command’s policy requiring lawyers to surrender their mobile phones before being allowed into police stations, warning that the practice could obstruct access to legal representation and expose confidential client information.
Chairman of the branch, Oju Kekemeke, raised the concerns when members of the newly elected branch executive paid a courtesy visit to the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, at the command headquarters in Akure on Thursday.
In a statement released on Friday, Kekemeke said lawyers and police officers performed complementary roles in maintaining law and order and should collaborate rather than engage in avoidable confrontations.
“The starting point is mutual respect for our professions. The lawyer must respect the police in his line of duty. The police must also respect the lawyer as an advocate and solicitor in line with his call,” he said.
According to him, cooperation between the two institutions is necessary for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, particularly from the point of arrest and investigation through prosecution and trial.
Kekemeke proposed regular Police–NBA criminal justice coordination meetings to address recurring concerns about lawful arrests, protection of suspects’ rights, access to counsel during statement-taking, investigations, legal advice, detention, bail and bond procedures, as well as compliance with fundamental human rights standards.
The branch also proposed monthly inspections of police detention facilities and joint training programmes for lawyers and police officers to improve professional understanding and strengthen the administration of criminal justice.
Kekemeke alleged that some lawyers had been harassed, intimidated and, in certain instances, molested at police stations while performing their professional duties.
“We respectfully urge you, sir, to use your good offices to engage police officers to understand the role of lawyers, as we will also engage our members to respect the police in the line of their duty,” he said.
He proposed that where the police had complaints against any member of the branch, the association should be formally contacted so that the matter could be addressed without allowing it to develop into repeated conflicts between officers and lawyers.
“If, for whatever reason, the police have issues with any of our members, we propose that our association be directly communicated for proper engagement on such issues to avoid recurrent conflicts,” Kekemeke added.
The NBA chairman also objected to the practice of requiring lawyers to surrender their mobile phones before entering police facilities.
He argued that lawyers increasingly relied on their phones to access legal authorities, documents and information required to represent clients, adding that the devices could contain privileged and confidential client material.
“The lawyer’s phone is more than a gadget; it is a mobile library, it is a repository of information—mostly clients’ confidential information—and much more,” he said.
Kekemeke acknowledged that reasonable security screening and restrictions on photography or recording could be imposed in sensitive areas where justified.
He, however, maintained that the mere possession of a mobile phone should not be used to prevent a lawyer from gaining access to a detained client.
“Reasonable screening and restrictions on photography or recording within sensitive areas may be maintained where justified, but the mere possession of a lawyer’s phone should not become an impediment to having access to his client,” he stated.
Responding, Ohagwu acknowledged that the effective administration of criminal justice required cooperation among the police, legal practitioners and other stakeholders.
The commissioner welcomed the NBA’s proposal for stronger institutional collaboration and assured the delegation of the command’s readiness to maintain professional engagement, improve communication and support initiatives promoting justice, accountability and the rule of law.
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