The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, and the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, have agreed to deepen cooperation between the police and legal profession in a bid to reduce recurring clashes and improve justice delivery in Nigeria.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday, September 8, when Badejo-Okusanya led members of the NBA National Executive Committee on a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Both institutions stressed the need for better communication, mutual respect and stronger professional relationships between lawyers and police officers.
Speaking during the meeting, the NBA President called for closer collaboration between the legal profession and the Nigeria Police Force.
She advocated specialised training for lawyers and stronger engagement between police lawyers and members of the wider Bar, noting that both professions play complementary roles in the justice system.
Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA must remain responsive to the concerns of its members across the country, while stressing that recurring confrontations between lawyers and police officers should be addressed through professional dialogue.
NBA proposes police lawyers at stations for children’s cases
The NBA President also highlighted a UNICEF-supported initiative focused on improving children’s access to justice.
Under the proposal, the NBA is seeking 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.
She said the initiative was particularly important because children and other vulnerable persons require adequate protection and support throughout the justice process.
Disu: Police and lawyers have different roles but one goal
Responding, IGP Disu congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her emergence as NBA President and described the visit as an opportunity to establish a stronger and more structured relationship between the two institutions.
The IGP said lawyers and police officers may have different primary responsibilities, but their duties ultimately meet at the point of justice.
According to him, lawyers are primarily concerned with protecting citizens’ rights, while the police are charged with protecting lives and property.
He stressed that respect for individuals, offices and professions must remain at the heart of interactions between both sides.
Meanwhile, the IGP also raised concerns about the way encounters involving police officers are sometimes recorded and circulated on social media.
He called for greater professionalism and responsibility in the recording and dissemination of such encounters, particularly when officers are performing difficult duties.
The IGP said police personnel should not be subjected to ridicule or have the demanding nature of their work trivialised for social media entertainment.
He noted that officers operate under challenging circumstances while carrying out their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
Police, NBA plan dedicated communication channel
As part of efforts to prevent disputes from escalating, the IGP identified the establishment of a dedicated Nigeria Police Force/NBA communication mechanism as one of the areas requiring urgent attention.
The proposed platform would provide both institutions with a structured avenue for raising professional concerns, improving coordination and resolving disagreements before they develop into unnecessary confrontations.
The IGP also identified the need for stronger professional engagement and measures to reduce delays in criminal trials as other areas requiring sustained collaboration.
‘We are partners in the pursuit of justice’
Disu acknowledged that disagreements between police officers and lawyers are inevitable in the course of their duties but said such differences must be handled with civility and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the Police Force’s readiness to work with the new NBA leadership to build a more productive relationship between both professions.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment by the Police and the NBA to strengthen cooperation, protect fundamental rights, improve access to justice and promote professionalism within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Both institutions believe that better communication and mutual respect could go a long way in reducing unnecessary friction between lawyers and police officers while ultimately improving justice delivery and public confidence in the system.
