The Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja, has condemned the alleged harassment, intimidation and arrest of its Treasurer, Monday Isah Adah, Esq., by officers of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the State Police Headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State, while he was representing a client at Magistrate Court No. 3, Lafia.
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In a statement dated August 13, 2026, and signed by the Branch Chairman, Alexander Ebi Edim, Esq., and Secretary, Mazi Echika Ejido, Esq., the NBA described the incident as unacceptable and a dangerous affront to the independence, dignity and professional freedom of lawyers.
According to the Branch, Adah was performing his professional duties as counsel when police officers allegedly sought to re-arrest his client within the court premises.
The NBA said the lawyer questioned the authority of the officers to carry out the re-arrest, but rather than address his objection through lawful procedures, the officers allegedly harassed, intimidated and subsequently arrested him.
“The Branch is reliably informed that Mr. Adah was performing his professional duty as counsel when he questioned the authority of police officers who sought to re-arrest his client within the court premises. Rather than address the issue through lawful and appropriate means, the officers allegedly subjected the lawyer to harassment and subsequently arrested him,” the statement said.
The Branch maintained that a lawyer who questions the legality of an action taken against his client is merely performing a fundamental responsibility in the administration of justice and should not be subjected to arrest for doing so.
It stressed that lawyers appearing in court must be able to challenge allegedly unlawful acts, question procedures they consider improper and insist on due process without fearing retaliation from law-enforcement officers.
“A lawyer appearing in court in representation of a client is performing an essential function in the administration of justice. The discharge of that responsibility necessarily requires counsel to question unlawful acts, challenge questionable procedures and insist upon due process,” the Branch stated.
According to the NBA, a lawyer cannot reasonably be expected to remain silent when confronted with what he considers an unlawful act simply because police officers are involved.
The Branch reminded the Nigeria Police Force that, as a law-enforcement institution, it is equally subject to the Constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and cannot exercise its powers outside the boundaries imposed by law.
It maintained that police officers have no licence to intimidate, harass or arrest lawyers merely because counsel questions or challenges the manner in which police powers are being exercised.
“The courtroom must never become a hunting ground for lawyers. A lawyer must be able to represent his client fearlessly, without the threat of arrest, intimidation or physical harassment by law-enforcement officers,” the statement added.
The NBA Nyanya-Karu Branch described the circumstances surrounding Adah’s alleged arrest as particularly disturbing because, according to the information available to it, the confrontation arose directly from his attempt to protect his client while discharging his professional responsibility.
It insisted that professional advocacy does not amount to a criminal offence and that a disagreement between a lawyer and police officers concerning the exercise of police powers cannot, without more, justify the arrest or harassment of counsel.
“The exercise of professional advocacy is not a criminal offence. A disagreement between counsel and a police officer over the exercise of police powers cannot, without more, constitute a basis for the harassment or arrest of counsel,” the Branch said.
The NBA therefore demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Adah if he remained in police custody.
It also called for an immediate investigation by the appropriate authorities into the circumstances surrounding his alleged harassment and arrest, including the identification of the officers involved and an examination of their conduct.
The Branch further demanded a formal and unreserved apology to the lawyer for what it described as harassment, intimidation and arrest while carrying out his professional duties.
It called on the appropriate authorities of the Nigeria Police Force to remind officers across the country that lawyers are officers of the court and critical participants in the administration of justice.
According to the Branch, disagreements between lawyers and law-enforcement officers must be resolved within the confines of the law and professional civility rather than through intimidation or arrest.
The NBA Nyanya-Karu Branch warned that it would not stand by while any of its members was allegedly intimidated for carrying out lawful professional responsibilities.
It said it was prepared to deploy every lawful institutional and legal mechanism available to protect Adah and defend the independence and dignity of the legal profession.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Bar Association, Nyanya-Karu Branch, will not stand by while any of its members is intimidated for doing his professional duty,” the statement said.
The Branch stressed that the independence of the legal profession is fundamental to the maintenance of the rule of law, warning that intimidating lawyers into silence could undermine the administration of justice.
“Where lawyers are intimidated into silence, the administration of justice is imperilled,” it stated.
The NBA consequently urged the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to respond promptly and decisively to the incident.
“Lawyers must be free to represent their clients without fear, intimidation or harassment. The legal profession must not be intimidated,” the Branch concluded.
The allegations against the police officers, including the circumstances of the attempted re-arrest of Adah’s client and the lawyer’s subsequent arrest, represent the account given by the NBA Nyanya-Karu Branch in its statement.
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