ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Justice O. Y. Anuwe of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has barred police officers who are not members of the Specialist Legal Cadre from representing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in civil proceedings, while directing the deployment of qualified police lawyers to police stations nationwide.
The court also ordered the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to assign at least one police lawyer to every police station across the country in line with the provisions of the Police Act, a move aimed at strengthening legal oversight and improving human rights compliance within the Force.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against the PSC and other defendants, challenging the practice of General Duty Police Officers who later obtained law degrees and were called to the Nigerian Bar but continued to perform legal duties without being formally converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre.
The case, marked NICN/ABJ/264/2025, sought the court’s interpretation of provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023, the Nigeria Police Act 2020 and the Police Force Order regulating legal practice within the Force.
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In a statement issued on Saturday through its official X account, the NBA said the court rejected the preliminary objection raised by the Police Service Commission, which had questioned the association’s legal standing to institute the action.
According to the association, Justice Anuwe adopted a liberal approach to public interest litigation, holding that the NBA had the requisite locus standi because the suit was intended to safeguard the integrity of the legal profession and promote compliance with statutory obligations.
On the substantive issues, the court ruled that only police officers duly appointed or converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre are legally qualified to represent the Nigeria Police in civil matters.
The judge consequently restrained officers outside the legal cadre from appearing in civil proceedings on behalf of the Force until they are properly appointed or converted in accordance with the law.
Justice Anuwe further ordered the PSC and the Inspector-General of Police to fully implement Section 66(3) of the Nigeria Police Act by deploying police lawyers to divisional formations across the country.
The NBA said the directive would improve legal advice within police commands, strengthen oversight of investigations and detention procedures, and reinforce compliance with constitutional safeguards governing police operations.
The association described the judgment as a major victory for institutional reforms, noting that it would enhance professionalism in police legal practice while promoting greater respect for the rule of law and protection of citizens’ rights.
It added that the Certified True Copy of the judgment would be released in due course and commended its legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olukunle O. Edun, for successfully prosecuting the case.