Odogwu

The One & Only nwa Imo; Progressive;

[Nigerian Bar Association @NigBarAssoc]

“Court Bars Non-Specialist Police Lawyers from Appearing in Civil Cases, Orders Deployment of Police Lawyers to All Police Stations Nationwide”

In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for policing, human rights enforcement and locus standi in Nigeria, 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 directed the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to deploy at least one police lawyer to every police station across the country to strengthen compliance with human rights standards in policing.

The judgment was delivered on Friday, 10 July 2026, by *Hon. Justice O. Y. Anuwe* in *Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Police Service Commission & 5 Others (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/264/2025)* The action was instituted by the Nigerian Bar Association.

The suit, prosecuted by SPIDEL's Public Interest Litigation Committee led by *Olukunle O. Edun, SAN*, sought, among other reliefs, judicial interpretation of Rule 8(1) and (2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, Section 18(9) and (11) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, and Force Order 137(3) of the Ratified Police Force Order 2013.

The NBA argued that several police officers recruited as General Duty Officers subsequently obtained Law Degrees and were called to the Nigerian Bar but were never converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre as required by law. Despite this, the officers continued to undertake legal duties, including representing the Nigeria Police in court.

According to the claimant, this practice contravenes Rule 8 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits lawyers in salaried employment from appearing for their employers in court unless they are employed as legal officers in a government department or agency.

Among the principal reliefs sought were orders directing the conversion of all qualified police lawyers performing legal services in the Force to the Specialist Legal Cadre and compelling the deployment of police lawyers to every police division in Nigeria in accordance with Section 66(3) of the Police Act 2020, which provides for legal officers to support human rights compliance within the Force.

Before considering the substantive issues, the Court dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the Police Service Commission, which had challenged the competence of the suit, including the locus standi of the Nigerian Bar Association to institute the action.

In adopting a liberal approach to standing in public interest litigation, the Court held that the NBA possessed the requisite legal standing, observing that the suit was instituted to protect the interests of legal practitioners and promote compliance with statutory and professional obligations.

On the merits, the Court held that the continued deployment of legally qualified police officers who had not been converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre to represent the Nigeria Police in civil proceedings was inconsistent with the applicable provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Court consequently restrained such officers from appearing in civil cases on behalf of the Nigeria Police until they are duly appointed or converted to the appropriate legal cadre.

Justice Anuwe further ordered the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police to give effect to Section 66(3) of the Police Act by deploying police lawyers to police stations nationwide to strengthen legal oversight and ensure greater protection of human rights in police operations.

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[Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT]

4/4

I have directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development @fmydNG, NAPTIN @NaptinNigeria, and all relevant stakeholders to commence this programme within the next 30 days.

I encourage eligible young Nigerians to apply.

Join The Power Force. Learn a skill. Earn with dignity. Help us end estimated billing and be part of the work to light up Nigeria.

Apply via https://t.co/cdlwNHrsXX. Portal opens on July 4, 2026.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
@NGRPresident @NigeriaGov

[NIMC @nimc_ng]

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[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

@EkeneAninze My oga, your opinion is not anywhere captured in that epistle.

[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

@ChineduOgbunyi1 @woye1 @NigeriaNDCHQ Yes.

[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

@Kezmag_ Another airport in Anambra is not even my problem. I hope this is not the official design of the airport. How can two planes be heading in an opposite direction on the runway?

[Woye @woye1]

Question: what if investing 50k monthly could make you a part owner of some of the biggest companies in the world?

2: it means in 6 years you could invest about N3.6 million in total and your portfolio could grow to nearly N5m.

3: that is the power of ownership, consistency, dividends, compound growth and long term investing.

4: You add not just saving money, you are buying ownership into companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta etc.

5: start next month; I will put in 50k. You have it.

[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

@aoidowu1309 @NigAffairs @woye1 So, if the FCT minister has personal issues to discuss with a fellow Nigerian, he shouldn't do so simply because of APC screening? What is even wrong with some of us in this country?

[Nigerian Affairs Journal @NigAffairs]

The screening committee's report is correct. 35 aspirants were cleared, while 65 were disqualified. We are receiving appeals, and it ends tomorrow at 5pm.

- Rivers State APC House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee Chairman, Abdul Mahmud, addresses the press at the Rivers State APC Secretariat

[Nigerian Affairs Journal @NigAffairs]

BREAKING: The Rivers State APC House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee, chaired by Abdul Mahmud, has confirmed that 33 aspirants were cleared while 65 aspirants were disqualified in the report submitted by the screening committee.

The appeal committee chairman also said that 19 appeals have been submitted by some aspirants today and added that the appeal ends tomorrow before the final list of cleared aspirants will be released.

Earlier on Monday, the Rivers State APC House of Assembly Screening Committee, chaired by Hon. Muraina Ajibola, recommended the disqualification of 65 aspirants loyal to Governor Fubara and Tonye Cole, and the clearance of 33 aspirants loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to participate in the party’s primaries.

[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

😂

[Nigerian Affairs Journal @NigAffairs]

I am not a member of the APC, so I don’t know what is happening in their screening. Even if they publish the results, why would I comment? I don’t know the reasons they have. What pertains to me is what I will talk about, not what does not concern me. Governor Fubara didn't tell me he has any problem in APC. I’m not a native doctor, neither am I a prophet to know what's happening in the APC.

- FCT Minister Nyesom Wike reacts to the Rivers State APC House of Assembly Screening Committee's report, which recommended the disqualification of 65 aspirants loyal to Governor Fubara and Tonye Cole

[Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident]

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[Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON @aonanuga1956]

We told you so. The political nomad is on the move again. Ignore all those puerile reasons he gave in these illogical musings, a self-serving letter to his mob. Peter Obi is a politician made of jelly, an opportunistic fellow. He can't fight Atiku or Amaechi for the ticket of ADC. He pursues the easy road, that will only lead him to doom, like in 2023. He always blames the government without doing a soul-searching of himself. Welcome, Peter to the 2027 race.

[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

@woye1 Lol, Kano abi Bayelsa?

[The_Bearded_Dr_Sina @the_beardedsina]

@RickyOnyebuchi https://t.co/tNpUAZ6Yrq

[Pharm. Unique @celebritypharm]

One of the questions I’ve had to answer many times is the difference between these two bottles.

If you have ever been confused about these two bottles, you are not alone.

So, what is the difference between Astymin and Astyfer?

Let’s find out below 👇

[Woye @woye1]

Sad news: FG not Tinubu has approved a sweeping increase in peculiar allowances and other welfare benefits for Federal Civil Servants in a move aimed to boost productivity.

2: 100% DTA for civil servants attending approved training Programme regardless of whether travel is involved.

-(a): This is for MARARABA training center stakeholders. Dem no themselves. Keffi go get breathing space now.

-(b): in other words, you are entitled to full DTA if your training is in Abuja. More money in their pockets

3: Make I inform Mama Cecilia and Nkechi about this development.

4: For retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme, the scheme provides 100% of a retiree’s total annual emoluments as an exit package in addition to their pension, effective January 1, 2026.

5: Tinubu don do this one

6: Housewives read nos 2(a) and (b), credit alerts don come. Vote for @OfficialAPCNg in 2027.

[AFRICAMUSTBEFREE!!!!!!! @engrICO2015]

The latest palm oil processing machine . All you need to do is to cook the palm fruits and the machine completes the rest

Nice one 😄

[Odogwu @Odogwuimo]

@BashirAhmaad @grok Lol