By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has secured a landmark judgment from the National Industrial Court directing the deployment of at least one legally qualified police officer to every Police Division across Nigeria, in a decision hailed as a major step toward strengthening the rule of law and protecting human rights within the Nigeria Police Force.
Announcing the judgment to members of the association on his X handle Sunday, NBA President Afam Osigwe described the Friday’s ruling as a significant victory for legal practice within the police and a reaffirmation of statutory compliance and professionalism.
According to him, the judgment, delivered on July 10, 2026, by the National Industrial Court, Abuja Judicial Division, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/264/2025, followed a public interest action instituted by the NBA through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) against the Police Service Commission and five other respondents.
The suit sought judicial interpretation and enforcement of provisions of the Police Act, 2020, and the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, particularly regarding the status, functions and deployment of lawyers serving in the Nigeria Police Force.
Among its key declarations, the court held that police officers who are qualified legal practitioners but have not been appointed or upgraded as Legal Officers cannot perform the duties of Legal Officers, except in relation to criminal prosecutions permitted by law.
The court also restrained such officers from presenting themselves as Legal Officers or carrying out responsibilities attached to the office unless expressly authorised by law.
In addition, the court ruled that the Police Service Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police have a mandatory statutory obligation under Section 66(3) of the Police Act, 2020, to deploy legally qualified police officers to every Police Division in the country to promote compliance with human rights standards.
To give effect to that obligation, the court ordered the relevant authorities to assign at least one legally qualified police officer to every Police Division across the federation.
While noting that the court declined the NBA’s request for the automatic upgrading of police lawyers to the rank of Superintendent of Police, Osigwe said the judgment marked a significant advancement in institutional reforms within the police.
According to him, the decision reinforces professionalism, statutory compliance and respect for the rule of law while affirming the critical role of legal practitioners in law enforcement institutions.
He added that the ruling would strengthen the protection of constitutional rights through improved legal oversight at the divisional level.
Osigwe commended SPIDEL for initiating and pursuing the litigation, particularly praising the Chairman of the SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation Committee, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, the legal team and committee members for their commitment to the case.
He assured NBA members that the association would study the judgment, monitor its implementation and take further legal steps where necessary to ensure full compliance with the court’s directives.
