IGP, NBA President Seek End to Police-Lawyer Clashes

ABUJA — The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, have agreed to strengthen professional collaboration, improve communication and promote mutual respect between the Nigeria Police Force and the legal profession.

The agreement was reached on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, when Badejo-Okusanya led members of the NBA National Executive Committee on a courtesy visit to Disu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting focused on addressing recurring friction between lawyers and police officers and strengthening cooperation between the two institutions in the interest of justice delivery and public safety.

Speaking during the visit, Badejo-Okusanya called 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 said the NBA had a responsibility to remain responsive to the needs of its members across the country, while calling for an end to recurring confrontations between lawyers and police officers.

The NBA President stressed that the two professions had complementary responsibilities within the justice system and should work together rather than allow professional disagreements to escalate into unnecessary clashes.

“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,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya also 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.

She said the proposal was aimed at ensuring that vulnerable children received adequate legal protection and support throughout the justice process.

The NBA President further called for stronger engagement between Police lawyers and members of the wider Bar, saying improved professional interaction would help deepen understanding and reduce areas of friction between the two professions.

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

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

He noted that while lawyers were principally concerned with protecting citizens’ rights and the Police with protecting lives and property, the responsibilities of both institutions ultimately converged in the administration of justice.

“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,” Disu said.

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

He said police officers should not be subjected to ridicule or have the difficult circumstances under which they perform their duties trivialised for social media entertainment.

Disu identified improved professional engagement, measures to reduce delays in criminal trials and the establishment of a dedicated Nigeria Police Force/NBA mechanism for communication and coordination as key areas requiring sustained collaboration.

He said such a mechanism would provide a structured channel through which professional concerns could be raised, coordination improved and disputes resolved before they escalated into confrontations.

The IGP acknowledged that disagreements could arise between lawyers and police officers in the course of their respective duties, but stressed that such differences must be handled professionally, respectfully and with civility.

He expressed readiness to work with the new NBA leadership to strengthen the relationship between the Police and the legal profession.

The meeting also touched on issues including lawyers’ access to police stations, juvenile justice, pro bono legal services, law reform, the involvement of police in land and civil disputes, delays in criminal trials and the use of mobile phones to record police activities.

The two institutions also discussed special courts and other possible measures to improve the speedy determination of criminal cases.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to working with the NBA and other justice-sector stakeholders to protect fundamental rights, improve access to justice, promote professionalism and strengthen public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Badejo-Okusanya said the engagement reaffirmed the commitment of the Bar to sustained dialogue and stronger institutional cooperation.

“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 NBA would continue to engage with the Police and other justice-sector institutions to develop practical solutions to challenges affecting effective administration of justice.