Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu hosted Nigerian Bar Association President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, and members of the association’s National Executive Committee at Force Headquarters in Abuja on 8 September 2026. Both sides pledged stronger professional collaboration, clearer communication and mutual respect to improve justice delivery and public safety.
The NBA president stressed the need for closer working relations between the police and the legal profession. She called for specialised training for lawyers and better links between police lawyers and the wider Bar. Badejo-Okusanya said the association must respond to the needs of its members nationwide and urged an end to repeated clashes between lawyers and police officers, noting that the two professions share complementary roles in the justice system.
She also outlined a UNICEF-supported programme on children’s access to justice. Under the proposal, the NBA wants a police lawyer stationed at every police station to give appropriate legal support to children entering the juvenile justice system.
Disu congratulated Badejo-Okusanya on her election as NBA president and described the meeting as a chance to build a more structured partnership. He said respect for individuals, offices and professions must guide professional dealings. While lawyers focus on protecting citizens’ rights and the police on protecting lives and property, he noted, both institutions meet in the administration of justice.
The IGP urged greater professionalism in how encounters involving police officers are recorded and shared. He said officers should not be ridiculed or have the difficulties of their work reduced to social-media entertainment, especially when they operate under demanding conditions to fulfil their constitutional duties.
To improve cooperation, Disu identified three priorities: better professional engagement, steps to cut delays in criminal trials, and a dedicated Nigeria Police Force, NBA channel for open communication. Such a mechanism, he said, would allow concerns to be raised, coordination improved and problems resolved before they escalate into confrontation.
Disu reaffirmed that the police and the legal profession are partners in the pursuit of justice. Differences may arise in the course of their work, he added, but they must be handled with professionalism, respect and civility. He expressed readiness to work with the new NBA leadership on a stronger partnership.
The Nigeria Police Force restated its commitment to closer collaboration with the NBA and other justice-sector stakeholders to protect fundamental rights, expand access to justice, promote professionalism and strengthen the criminal justice system.
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