*Discuss Access To Stations, Juvenile Justice, Trial Delays
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The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, have opened discussions on measures to reduce recurring confrontations between lawyers and police officers and strengthen cooperation between the two institutions in the administration of justice.
The discussions took place on September 8, 2026, when Badejo-Okusanya led members of the NBA National Executive Committee on a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where they met the IGP and members of the Force Management Team.
At the meeting, both institutions agreed on the need for stronger professional collaboration, more effective communication and greater mutual respect between lawyers and police officers, acknowledging that although their responsibilities differ, both operate within the same criminal justice system.
Among the issues considered were lawyers’ access to police stations, professional relations between lawyers and officers, juvenile justice, pro bono legal services, law reform, the handling of land and civil disputes by the Police, delays in criminal trials, the use of mobile phones to record police activities, social media skits involving police officers, special courts and opportunities available to police personnel.
The NBA President said the recurring friction between lawyers and police officers should not be allowed to continue, arguing that both professions have complementary responsibilities in protecting rights, enforcing the law and ensuring effective justice delivery.
She called for closer engagement between police lawyers and members of the wider Bar and advocated specialised training that could improve lawyers’ understanding of police operations while also strengthening professional relationships between both sides.
According to Badejo-Okusanya, the NBA has a responsibility to respond to the concerns of its members across the country, particularly where lawyers encounter difficulties while attempting to carry out their professional duties at police formations.
She maintained that lawyers must be allowed to discharge their professional responsibilities, just as police officers should be able to perform their lawful duties with the dignity, respect and institutional support they require.
A major aspect of the discussions centred on children who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
Badejo-Okusanya highlighted a UNICEF-supported initiative on children’s access to justice under which the NBA is proposing the presence of a police lawyer at every police station to provide appropriate legal support to children who encounter the juvenile justice system.
She said the proposal was aimed at ensuring that vulnerable children receive adequate legal protection and support throughout their interaction with the justice system.
The meeting also examined the provision of pro bono legal services and how lawyers could assist persons who are unable to afford legal representation.
Senior police officers raised questions concerning the practical operation of pro bono services and how greater cooperation with the Bar could improve access to representation.
Law reform also featured prominently, with participants discussing the challenges created by outdated laws and the need for legal frameworks that respond more effectively to contemporary policing and criminal justice realities.
Issues surrounding the involvement of police officers in land and other civil disputes were similarly considered as part of broader efforts to clarify professional boundaries and reduce areas that have historically generated tension between the Police and lawyers.
There were also discussions on special courts and possible institutional measures to speed up the determination of criminal cases.
The IGP identified delays in criminal trials as one of the areas where closer cooperation between the Police and the Bar could improve justice delivery.
Disu, while congratulating Badejo-Okusanya on her emergence as NBA President, said the meeting provided an opportunity to establish a stronger and more structured relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the legal profession.
He stressed that respect for individuals, offices and professions should form the basis of interactions between police officers and lawyers.
According to the IGP, while lawyers are primarily concerned with protecting the rights of citizens and the Police are charged with protecting lives and property, their responsibilities ultimately converge in the administration of justice.
The Police leadership, however, also raised concerns about the manner in which encounters involving police officers are sometimes recorded and circulated on social media.
Disu said police personnel should not be subjected to ridicule or have the difficult circumstances under which they operate reduced to entertainment content.
The meeting particularly considered the recording of police activities with mobile phones and the production of skits involving officers.
While not suggesting that police conduct should be immune from scrutiny, the IGP called for greater professionalism and responsibility in the recording and dissemination of encounters involving officers, noting that personnel often operate under difficult and dangerous conditions while carrying out their responsibility to protect lives and property.
Badejo-Okusanya said the talks were candid and allowed both sides to discuss the realities faced by their respective institutions.
“We listened, engaged openly, and explored practical solutions. We agreed that lawyers must be able to discharge their professional responsibilities, just as police officers must be able to carry out their lawful duties with the respect and support they deserve,” she said.
She added that the Bar and the Police may perform different functions within the justice system but share responsibility for ensuring that the system works.
“We may have different roles within the justice system, but we share a responsibility to make that system work. That means listening. It means confronting difficult issues. And it means finding practical solutions together,” the NBA President said.
To prevent professional disagreements from escalating, the IGP proposed the establishment of a dedicated Nigeria Police Force/NBA mechanism that would provide a permanent and seamless channel of communication between the two institutions.
The proposed mechanism is expected to enable both sides to raise professional concerns, improve coordination and resolve disputes before they develop into confrontations between lawyers and police personnel.
Disu identified improved professional engagement, reduction of delays in criminal trials and the establishment of the dedicated communication mechanism as key areas requiring sustained collaboration.
The IGP acknowledged that disagreements between police officers and lawyers would sometimes arise because of the nature of their respective duties but maintained that such differences should be handled professionally, respectfully and with civility.
The discussions also touched on welfare and professional opportunities for police officers, with senior members of the Force raising questions about ways of improving institutional and professional development.
Badejo-Okusanya said the engagement reaffirmed a shared commitment to sustained dialogue, stronger institutional cooperation and the development of a justice system capable of serving everyone.
“The Bar will continue to show up, speak up, listen and build the partnerships necessary to make justice work,” she said.
The Nigeria Police Force similarly reaffirmed its readiness to work with the new NBA leadership and other justice-sector stakeholders to protect fundamental rights, expand access to justice and improve confidence in the criminal justice system.
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