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The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the deployment of at least one police lawyer to every police station across the country in line with the Police Act 2020.

Justice O. Y. Anuwe gave the order on Friday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association against the Police Service Commission and five others.

The court also barred police officers who are not employed in the Specialist Legal Cadre from representing the Nigeria Police Force in civil proceedings.

It further dismissed a preliminary objection by the PSC challenging the competence of the suit and the locus standi of the NBA to institute the action.

The judgment followed a public interest suit instituted by the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law, seeking the interpretation of provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023, the Police Act 2020 and the Police Force Order 2013 relating to the status and functions of police lawyers.

The NBA had argued that several police officers recruited as General Duty Officers later obtained law degrees and were called to the Nigerian Bar but were never converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre as required by law.

According to the association, despite not belonging to the Specialist Legal Cadre, the officers continued to provide legal services and represent the police in court, contrary to Rule 8 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Rule 8 restricts salaried lawyers from appearing for their employers unless they are employed as legal officers in a government department or agency.

In the judgment, the court held that the NBA had the legal standing to institute the suit, adopting what it described as a liberal approach to locus standi in public interest litigation.

Justice Anuwe held that the action was brought to protect the interests of legal practitioners and ensure compliance with statutory and professional obligations.

The court also ruled that the continued appearance of legally qualified police officers who had not been appointed or converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre in civil proceedings on behalf of the Nigeria Police was inconsistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Consequently, the court restrained such officers from representing the police in civil cases until they are duly appointed or converted to the appropriate legal cadre.

Justice Anuwe held that deploying police lawyers to police stations nationwide would strengthen legal oversight within the Force and enhance compliance with human rights standards in police operations, including arrests, detention and investigations.

The NBA had also sought orders directing the conversion of all qualified police lawyers currently performing legal duties within the Force to the Specialist Legal Cadre.

Reacting to the judgment in a statement on its official X handle on Saturday, the NBA described the decision as a major step towards strengthening the rule of law and institutional reforms within the Nigeria Police Force.

The association said the judgment would promote the professionalisation of police legal practice, improve access to legal advice at police divisions and reinforce constitutional safeguards in policing.

The suit was prosecuted by the NBA-SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation Committee led by Olukunle Edun, SAN, alongside Austin Utah, Dr Lilian Ojimma, Bulus Atsen, Olajide Abiodun, Mohammed Danjuma and Vincent Adodo.

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Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have won Saturday’s local government elections conducted across the 192 wards and 18 local government areas of Edo State.

Despite the statewide victory, voter turnout was low in many polling units visited, with reports from across the state indicating widespread voter apathy.

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) said 12 political parties participated in the election, but APC candidates emerged victorious in all the chairmanship and councillorship contests.

However, turnout was relatively high at Ward 2, Udomi Primary School, in Esan Central Local Government Area, where Governor Monday Okpebholo cast his vote.

Election materials arrived early at polling units, while voters queued to cast their ballots in parts of Esan South-East, Esan West and Esan Central local government areas.

Governor Okpebholo arrived at his polling unit at about 10:30 a.m. and voted 10 minutes later.

Speaking after voting, he described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.

“This election is very peaceful and it is going smoothly based on the feedback we are getting from the field.

“The turnout is very high. This is a demonstration of grassroots democracy. It shows that our people are interested in choosing those who will administer the affairs of their local governments. By the grace of God, a winner will emerge at the end of today’s election,” he said.

The governor urged residents to remain peaceful throughout the exercise and await the official declaration of results by EDSIEC.

Earlier, EDSIEC Chairman, Johnson Aifuobhokhan, said the commission recruited and trained 10,000 ad hoc staff for the election.

Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, and his son, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, also voted at Ward 10, Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government Area.

In Ovia South-West Local Government Area, 30-year-old Anthony Osarobo of the APC was declared chairman-elect after polling 98,994 votes across the council’s 10 wards.

Returning Officer for the election, Dr Arodoye Nosakhare, announced the result at the EDSIEC Local Government Collation Centre.

“After the collation of results across different party lines, the APC chairmanship candidate, having scored the majority of valid votes, is hereby returned elected,” Nosakhare declared.

Reacting to his victory, Osarobo expressed appreciation to the electorate for the confidence reposed in him.

“I am happy to have emerged as the Chairman-elect of Ovia South West. I do not take this victory for granted because it was made possible by the support and confidence reposed in me by the people. I will use this mandate to work tirelessly for the development and progress of Ovia South West,” he said.

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Governor Seyi Makinde says the wait is over. All 39 pupils abducted in Oriire LGA have been rescued, alongside five of the seven teachers taken with them. But the victory came at a cost.

Speaking on Saturday after visiting the victims in hospital, Makinde confirmed that some security personnel lost their lives during the operation.

“I’m very happy the children are back, all of them, 39 of them,” he said.

“Also, five of the seven teachers, so we give glory to God and we say thank you to our troops, the officers and men. We lost some officers and part of our troops as well.”

—“They are glad to be back”—

The Nigerian Army had on Friday announced that the victims were freed after a month-long intelligence-led operation involving troops and other security agencies.

Multiple arrests, the army said, disrupted the kidnappers’ network and forced the release.

Makinde said the pupils and teachers are receiving medical care and psychological support.

“When your freedom is taken away, it’s a different state of mind. But they are glad to be back. Some of them are still very afraid,” he said.

“They have to do quite a bit of medical intervention, post-traumatic issues to be addressed. But we have the team ready to do that.”

The governor added that the victims will remain under observation for another 48 hours before a formal handover from the military to the state, likely by Monday.

—Families to reunite—

Arrangements are being made for relatives to visit.
“But also today, we are putting logistics together to at least bring the family members to come and see them,” Makinde said.

“There’s a small girl in there that basically has been asking, ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’ So at least we want the mom to be able to come and then see her.”

He assured families of fallen officers: “their loved ones will not have died in vain.”

—Call for Unity—

Makinde urged Nigerians to rally together against insecurity.

“It’s our country. All countries around the world, they do have challenges. So when we’re challenged, it’s not usually the best time for us to sow seeds of division. It’s the best time for us to come together and confront our challenges.”

He said he will brief Oyo residents and Nigerians later in the week on full details of the abduction and rescue.

For now, 44 families can breathe again. For the troops who didn’t return, the governor’s pledge is that their sacrifice will not be forgotten.