By Adewole Kehinde
“It’s every lawyer’s dream to help shape the law, not just react to it”. — Alan Dershowitz
On Monday, 29th September 2025, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, once again demonstrated his visionary leadership by hosting the 98 newly called-to-bar lawyers of the Nigeria Police Force.
His message was clear, profound, and timely: the Nigeria Police cannot carry out its duty effectively without officers who understand the law in its depth and can apply it with clarity.
I wholeheartedly agree. Policing is about enforcing the law, and no Force can do this effectively without sound legal knowledge. To wield authority without legal grounding is to risk injustice; to enforce the law with mastery of its principles is to guarantee justice, order, and discipline.
A particularly proud moment for the Force was the recognition of the female police officer who achieved First Class Honours at the Nigerian Law School.
Her brilliance not only brought pride to the Nigeria Police Force but also served as an inspiring example to her colleagues that excellence knows no gender, only diligence and determination.
The IGP’s foresight in recently upgrading the Legal Section of the Force into the Force Directorate of Legal Services, now headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, deserves commendation.
It seems almost prophetic that this structural reform coincided with the large number of police personnel recently called to the bar.
The elevation of the Directorate signifies a recognition that the Police must now harness legal expertise not just for prosecutorial strength but also for institutional survival in an increasingly complex legal environment.
As the IGP rightly stated, the Police Legal Directorate must deliver sharper legal direction, ensure watertight prosecutions, shield the Force from legal vulnerabilities, and shape policy at the highest levels of governance. The era of half-baked prosecutions or weak legal defences must be permanently buried.
But with privilege comes responsibility. I urge our newly called-to-bar police officers to remember that every power they exercise must be backed by the law. Their call to the bar must not remain ceremonial; it must be put to work, strengthening the Nigeria Police Force and serving the Nigerian people with honour. They must uphold integrity, advise with authority, advance reforms, and inspire their peers.
At this time, more than ever before, the Nigeria Police does not need lawyers who merely carry titles. It needs officers who will make the law work, for justice, for discipline, and for the betterment of Nigeria.
The IGP has set the tone. It is now up to the Police Lawyers to rise to the occasion.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. 08166240846. kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole
