Abuja – In a significant judgment that could reshape policing practices and strengthen human rights safeguards across Nigeria, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has prohibited police officers who are not part of the Specialist Legal Cadre from representing the Nigeria Police Force in civil proceedings.
The court also directed the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to deploy at least one qualified police lawyer to every police station nationwide, aiming to enhance legal oversight and ensure better compliance with human rights standards in day-to-day police operations.
Hon. Justice O. Y. Anuwe delivered the ruling on Friday, July 10, 2026, in the case of Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Police Service Commission & 5 Others (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/264/2025).
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) brought the suit, which was prosecuted by the Public Interest Litigation Committee of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), led by Olukunle O. Edun, SAN.
The NBA had sought judicial interpretation of key provisions, including Rule 8(1) and (2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, Section 18(9) and (11) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, and Force Order 137(3) of the Ratified Police Force Order 2013.
Central to the case was the practice of General Duty police officers who later qualified as lawyers but were never formally converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre. These officers had continued to perform legal duties, including appearing in court for the Force. The NBA argued that this violated professional conduct rules prohibiting salaried lawyers from representing their employers in court unless properly employed as legal officers.
The court dismissed a preliminary objection by the PSC challenging the NBA’s locus standi, adopting a liberal approach to public interest litigation. On the substantive issues, Justice Anuwe ruled that deploying unconverted police lawyers to handle civil cases was inconsistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Consequently, the court restrained such officers from appearing in civil proceedings on behalf of the Nigeria Police until they are duly converted or appointed to the appropriate legal cadre.
Additionally, the judgment ordered the PSC and IGP to implement Section 66(3) of the Police Act 2020 by posting police lawyers to all police divisions to provide on-ground legal support and promote constitutional compliance in arrests, detentions, and investigations.
This decision is expected to professionalize police legal services, improve access to legal advice at the grassroots level, and reinforce institutional respect for human rights within the Nigeria Police Force.
The Nigerian Bar Association described the outcome as a major step in advancing the rule of law through strategic public interest litigation.
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