NBA, NPF Seek End To Clashes Among Lawyers, Policemen

By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) and the Nigeria Police are exploiting areas of possible synergy to enhance their professional duties.

The two bodies want professional collaboration, improved communication and greater mutual respect in advancing justice and public safety.

Discussions were held between the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, when they met in Abuja on Tuesday.

Speaking during the visit, the NBA President emphasised the need for closer synergy between the Police and the legal profession, particularly through specialised training for lawyers and improved engagement between Police lawyers and members of the wider Bar.

She noted that the NBA has a responsibility to remain responsive to the needs of its members across the country and advocated for an end to recurring clashes between lawyers and Police officers, stressing that both professions have complementary responsibilities within the justice system.

The NBA President further 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 come into contact with the juvenile justice system.

The proposal, she noted, underscores the importance of ensuring that vulnerable children are adequately supported and protected throughout the justice process.

Responding, the IGP congratulated Mrs Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, on her emergence as President of the NBA and described the engagement as an opportunity to build a stronger and more structured relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the legal profession.

He stressed that respect for every individual, office and profession must remain fundamental to professional interactions, noting 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.

The IGP also called for greater professionalism and responsibility in the recording and dissemination of encounters involving Police officers.

He stressed that personnel should not be subjected to ridicule or have the demanding circumstances of their duties trivialised for social media entertainment, particularly when officers operate under challenging conditions in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities to protect lives and property.

As part of efforts to strengthen institutional cooperation, 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.

He noted that such a 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 and acknowledged 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 Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association and other justice-sector stakeholders towards protecting fundamental rights, improving access to justice, promoting professionalism and building a more effective, responsive and trusted criminal justice system.”