NBA-SPIDEL HAILS LANDMARK JUDGMENT ON DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS

NEWS RELEASE

NBA-SPIDEL WELCOMES LANDMARK JUDGMENT DIRECTING DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE LAWYERS TO ALL POLICE STATIONS AND PROHIBITING NON-SPECIALIST POLICE LAWYERS FROM APPEARING IN CIVIL CASES

The Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) warmly welcomes the landmark judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, delivered by Hon. Justice O. Y. Anuwe on 10 July 2026 in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/264/2025: Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Police Service Commission & 5 Others.

The judgment represents a significant milestone in the advancement of the rule of law, the professionalisation of police legal services, the protection of human rights, and the continued development of public interest litigation in Nigeria.

As a threshold issue, the Court dismissed the Preliminary Objection filed by the Police Service Commission challenging, among other things, the locus standi of the Nigerian Bar Association to institute the action. In so doing, the Court affirmed the NBA’s standing to institute public interest litigation for the protection of the welfare and professional interests of its members and in furtherance of the public interest. This pronouncement further strengthens the place of public interest litigation as an indispensable instrument for promoting constitutional governance and institutional accountability.

On the substantive issues, the Court upheld the NBA’s case for the enforcement of Section 66(3) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, and consequently directed the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police to deploy police lawyers to police stations across the Federation to strengthen legal oversight and promote compliance with human rights standards in policing.

The Court also upheld the NBA’s contention that police officers who are legally qualified but have not been appointed or converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre cannot appear on behalf of the Nigeria Police in civil proceedings. The Court held that such appearances are inconsistent with Rule 8(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, and accordingly restrained police lawyers who have not been upgraded to the Specialist Legal Cadre from appearing in civil cases before courts in Nigeria.

This judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for the administration of justice. By requiring the deployment of police lawyers to police stations nationwide, the decision provides an important institutional framework for improving legal compliance within the Nigeria Police Force, enhancing the protection of fundamental rights, strengthening accountability in policing, and ensuring that legal advice is readily available at the operational level.

The judgment also reinforces the statutory framework governing legal practice within public institutions and underscores the importance of compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act. SPIDEL is committed to operationalising this significant judgment in collaboration with the critical stakeholders.

The Section commends the dedication, industry and exceptional commitment of its legal team comprising Olukunle O. Edun, SAN, Austin J. Otah, Dr. Lilian Ojima, Bulus Y. Atsen, fsi, Olajide Abiodun Mohammed Danjuma and Vincent Adodo.

SPIDEL remains resolute in its mandate to advance public interest and development law through strategic litigation, policy engagement, law reform and sustained advocacy in the service of justice and the public good. The Section reckons that it is not yet uhuru in this matter, and it will continue to pursue the remaining legs of its claims to a conclusive end.

Assoc. Prof. Uju Agomoh,
Chairperson,
NBA-SPIDEL