The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), has instituted legal action to address the unjust and undue delay in the conversion and promotion of legal practitioners serving in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to the specialist cadre.
A core mandate of the NBA is to protect and promote the welfare of its members. In furtherance of this, the Association established several forums, including the Police Lawyers Forum, which comprises members of the Bar who are enlisted as officers and men of the Police.
While some officers joined the NPF as already qualified lawyers, others became lawyers while in service with the permission of the Force. By law, once called to the Nigerian Bar, such officers ought to have been automatically converted from general duty to specialist cadre in line with Section 18(9) and (11) of the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act 2020 and Force Order 137 of the Ratified Force Order 2013.
This conversion would entitle them to promotion from junior ranks such as Inspector, Sergeant, and Corporal to the substantive rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).
However, despite clear legal provisions, lawyers in the police force have for years been unjustly denied this conversion. Many continue to serve at junior ranks while simultaneously appearing in courts across Nigeria to prosecute and defend cases on behalf of the Force. In contrast, professionals in other fields such as medicine, engineering, accountancy, and aviation enjoy accelerated conversion to specialist cadres.
Past NBA administrations attempted to resolve the issue through dialogue, but no progress was made. The continued neglect has been described as an assault on the dignity of the legal profession and a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, as lawyers are deployed to legal duties without being formally recognised or employed as legal officers.
On September 3, 2025, the NBA, through SPIDEL, filed Suit No. NICN/ABJ/264/2025 before the National Industrial Court, Abuja: The Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Police Service Commission & 5 Ors.
Among the reliefs sought is an order compelling the Defendants to “forthwith upgrade all junior police officers who are lawyers to the substantive rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) and who before now were used/deployed as legal officers for the Defendants.”
The NBA acknowledged the efforts of the Section’s Public Interest Litigation Committee, chaired by Mr. Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, SAN, for its proactive role in driving the action.
As the legal battle begins, NBA SPIDEL Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, urged all parties to respect the judicial process, cease harassment of lawyers in the police force, and await the court’s decision in good faith.
Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN
Chairman, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL)
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