Disu made the call on Tuesday when the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, led a delegation of the association on a visit to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The IGP said the police and legal profession were critical partners in the criminal justice system and must work together to protect citizens’ rights and ensure justice.
He said, “The police and the legal profession are indispensable partners in the criminal justice system.”
Disu urged lawyers and police officers to respect their respective professional responsibilities, stressing that disagreements involving individuals should not be allowed to develop into wider institutional conflicts.
He expressed concern over alleged incidents of harassment and intimidation of police officers while performing their duties, saying complaints against officers should be channelled through appropriate mechanisms.
The IGP also cautioned against using police officers as subjects of social-media skits or entertainment while they are performing official duties.
He noted that officers deployed to checkpoints, highways, forests and other remote locations often work under difficult conditions to protect members of the public.
Disu, however, acknowledged that citizens could record police officers in public places, adding that the Force was reviewing the issue of recording within police formations, including the use of concealed cameras.
Speaking earlier, Badejo-Okusanya pledged to promote a stronger and more constructive relationship between the NBA and the Police Force, particularly in criminal justice administration and access to justice.
She said, “We recognise the important role of the police in protecting democracy, securing citizens and safeguarding their rights.”
The NBA President proposed greater participation of police lawyers in NBA activities and training programmes, saying lawyers serving within the Police Force and other security institutions should be better
integrated into the association.
She also disclosed plans to collaborate with the police on a UNICEF-supported initiative aimed at improving children’s access to justice and legal representation within the juvenile justice system.
Badejo-Okusanya further proposed a mechanism through which the police could report lawyers who violate professional protocols to the NBA for appropriate disciplinary action.
She also called for dialogue over restrictions on lawyers taking mobile phones into some police formations, arguing that mobile devices had become essential tools in modern legal practice.
Both institutions expressed commitment to improving communication, professional accountability and cooperation, with the ultimate goal of strengthening Nigeria’s criminal justice system and improving access to justice.
