The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, have agreed to deepen professional cooperation and promote mutual respect between lawyers and police officers.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a meeting between the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the NBA President, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Ani Iniedu, the meeting focused on strengthening relations between the police and the legal profession, improving access to justice and creating mechanisms for resolving professional concerns through dialogue.
Badejo-Okusanya advocated the need for closer engagement between the Police and the Bar, particularly in the areas of specialised training for lawyers and stronger interaction between Police lawyers and members of the wider legal profession.
She said the NBA had a responsibility to remain responsive to the needs of its members nationwide, while advocating improved professional relations between lawyers and police officers.
She also stressed the complementary roles played by both professions in the justice system, urging greater understanding and cooperation to reduce recurring disagreements between members of the two institutions.
She drew attention to a UNICEF-supported initiative on children’s access to justice, under which the NBA is proposing the deployment of a Police lawyer at every police station to provide appropriate legal support to children who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
According to her, the proposal is aimed at ensuring that children and other vulnerable persons receive appropriate support and protection throughout the justice process.
Disu congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her emergence as NBA President, describing the meeting as an opportunity to establish a stronger and more structured relationship between the Police and the legal profession.
The IGP said respect for individuals, institutions and professional responsibilities should remain central to interactions between police officers and lawyers.
He noted that while lawyers are principally concerned with protecting citizens’ rights and the Police with safeguarding lives and property, the responsibilities of both institutions ultimately converge in the administration of justice.
Disu also sought greater professionalism in the recording and dissemination of encounters involving police personnel.
He cautioned against the use of such encounters merely for social media entertainment, stressing the need for the circumstances under which officers perform their duties to be treated with appropriate understanding and responsibility.
The IGP identified several areas in which stronger institutional cooperation could produce improvements across the justice system.
He identified enhanced professional engagement, measures to reduce delays in criminal trials and the establishment of a dedicated Nigeria Police Force/NBA communication mechanism.
According to him, such a platform would provide a structured avenue for both institutions to communicate, address professional concerns and resolve issues before they develop into unnecessary confrontations.
He reaffirmed the Police’s readiness to work with the NBA under its new leadership, maintaining that disagreements arising from the discharge of professional responsibilities should be handled through established channels and with civility.
He stressed that the Police and the legal profession should regard themselves as partners in the pursuit of justice, despite the differences that may occasionally arise in the course of their respective duties.