Serving police prosecutors under the umbrella of Police Lawyers’ Forum in Nigeria have commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for filing an action at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, challenging what it describes as the “unjust and undue delay” in the conversion and promotion of legal practitioners serving in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to the specialist cadre, as mandated by law.
Writing through the law firm of D.D. Folorunsho and Co., the police lawyers said, “The institution of this matter is a clear indication of the bold and unwavering commitment of the leadership of the Bar to continue to uphold the pursuit of justice and fairness to all Nigerians…”
The full text of the letter reads:
“We have the instruction of all the serving Police Prosecutors under the umbrella of the Police Lawyers’ Forum, to write in appreciation of the President, the leadership and the entire members of the Nigeria Bar Association and Section on public and development law (SPIDEL) for the institution of the above-stated matter.
“The institution of this matter is a clear indication of the bold and unwavering commitment of the leadership of the Bar to continue to uphold the pursuit of justice and fairness to all Nigerians, and in this regard, members of the Bar in the Force who are saddled with the onerous task of prosecuting cases in our Courts.
“There is no doubt that a disgruntled Police Prosecutor will impact negatively on the administration of criminal justice system in the country. We believe this commendable effort will not only enthrone justice and fairness, but will in the end make the office attractive to the best brains and hands and ultimately engender law, order and progress in Nigeria.
“We look forward to a favorable outcome in The Suit which we do hope shall rightly position the members of this noble profession in the Nigeria police force in the same pedestal with other professionals, like the medical doctors and engineers. It suffices to reiterate that a bold initiative has been taken by the current leadership of The Nigerian Bar Association and SPIDEL, and posterity will always attribute to it the beginning of this laudable effort in pursuit of justice and fairness for members of the Bar and Nigerians in the Force, who have the task of prosecuting offenders in the Nigerian Courts.
“The Police Lawyers’ Forum wish by this medium to say a resounding thank you to the President and the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association.”
The suit, filed on Thursday, September 3, 2025, through the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), seeks to enforce compliance with Section 18 (9) and (11) of the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act 2020 and Force Order 137 of the Ratified Force Order 2013.
For years, lawyers enlisted in the Police Force — whether called to the Bar before enlistment or while in service with the permission of the Police — have remained in general duty roles and denied conversion to the specialist cadre in law. This denial has also deprived them of the accelerated promotion due under the law, particularly the automatic upgrade from junior ranks such as Corporal, Sergeant, or Inspector to the substantive rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).
