Abuja, Nigeria – September 15, 2026
DDNewsOnline
The newly elected Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leadership, led by President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, met with Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on September 8, 2026, to end recurring frictions and strengthen professional collaboration.
The meeting focused on addressing ongoing hostile encounters and disagreements that frequently occur between police officers and defence lawyers during investigations or at police stations.
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It also aimed at building a structured partnership by transitioning from a tense relationship to a cooperative framework that improves public safety and smooths the administration of justice.
Another key issue discussed was protecting vulnerable juveniles through a joint UNICEF-supported initiative to station specialised legal support at police desks for children who come into contact with the justice system.
During the high-level meeting, the 33rd President of the NBA, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, made several definitive statements highlighting the role of defence lawyers and the public’s constitutional rights.
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When Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu argued that recording officers on duty was demoralising and should be stopped, Badejo-Okusanya directly pushed back to protect accountability.
“Law enforcement agencies should not be afraid of transparency,” she said.
She asserted that lawful recording by citizens promotes accountability and should not be discouraged when officers are carrying out public, official duties. To back this up, she pointed to global law enforcement standards, specifically highlighting how police forces in the United States use body cameras as a routine tool for transparency.
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However, she conceded that a clear boundary needs to be established to respect an officer’s personal privacy where appropriate.
The Inspector-General of Police focused on protecting police morale, defining professional boundaries, and building a structured partnership with the legal community.
He stated that a recent court judgment upholding the right to record police officers had “really jolted our officers,” describing the resulting wave of recordings as “very, very demoralising” for members of the force who work under severe operational pressures across the country.
Both IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu and NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, formally committed to building a stronger and more structured relationship to prevent future physical or legal clashes between lawyers and police officers on duty.
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The meeting marks a pivotal shift toward a structured blueprint prioritising mutual respect and transparency in Nigerian justice administration.
By: Komolafe Barakah