The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, has barred police officers who are not employed in the Specialist Legal Cadre from appearing in civil proceedings on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force.
The court also ordered the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police to deploy at least one police lawyer to every police station across the country to strengthen compliance with human rights standards in policing.
The Nigerian Bar Association disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday.
According to the association, the judgment was delivered by Justice O. Y. Anuwe in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/264/2025, Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Police Service Commission & 5 Others.
The NBA explained that the suit challenged the practice of police officers recruited as General Duty Officers, who later obtained law degrees and were called to the Nigerian Bar, performing legal duties and representing the Nigeria Police Force in court without being converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre.
