By Nkechi Eze
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has lauded the recently called-to-Bar lawyers of the Nigeria Police Force, describing their success as a milestone that strengthens the institution and adds value to the country. Addressing the young lawyers at a special meeting held on Monday, September 29, 2025, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the IGP said their achievement was not only a personal triumph but also an institutional asset for the Police and for Nigeria.
Egbetokun congratulated the officers for their successful completion of the Nigerian Law School programme and their subsequent call to the Bar, noting with pride that one of them distinguished himself by graduating with First Class Honours. “You have made the Nigeria Police Force proud, and for that, I thank you,” he said. The Police Chief emphasized that policing is fundamentally about enforcing the law, stressing that no Force can do this effectively without sound legal knowledge. He pointed out that every action of the Police must be grounded in law, every power exercised must be backed by law, and every responsibility borne must be judged by law. He therefore charged the new lawyers to put their knowledge to active use in strengthening the institution and serving the Nigerian people.
The IGP further highlighted that their success came at a defining moment when the Legal Section of the Force had been elevated to the status of the Force Directorate of Legal Services, now under the command of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police. According to him, this elevation was not merely symbolic but a strategic step to ensure sharper legal direction, more watertight prosecutions, stronger protection of the institution from legal vulnerabilities, and informed policy shaping at the highest levels. “You are entering at this turning point, and the responsibility to make this Directorate excel rests heavily on your shoulders,” he stated.
Egbetokun was clear in his expectations, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force does not need “lawyers in uniform for decoration,” but officers who will add real value. He urged them to strengthen prosecutions by making cases professional and beyond compromise, uphold integrity by remaining above reproach and resisting corruption, provide authoritative and reliable legal advice to commanders, advance reforms that align the Force with constitutional standards, human rights obligations and international best practices, and inspire other officers by being role models who combine the police uniform and the lawyer’s gown with distinction.
The Police Chief reminded the officers that their call to the Bar had doubled their responsibility, making them accountable not just to the Force but also to the legal profession and to the Nigerian people. He warned that mediocrity would not be tolerated, stressing that they must carry themselves with humility, discipline, and loyalty, while using their legal knowledge for service rather than personal advantage. “The uniform you wear is not ordinary. Combined with the authority of the lawyer’s gown, it places you in a unique and demanding position. Let your competence strengthen this Directorate. Let your integrity inspire this institution. Excellence will be recognized and rewarded,” he said.
Closing his address, the IGP congratulated the officers once again for bringing pride to the Force, but reminded them that pride alone was not enough. He said the Police had invested in their education and professional growth, and they must now justify that investment. “Step into the Directorate of Legal Services with confidence, but also with duty. The nation is watching. The Force is depending on you. Your work will determine not just your future, but also the standing of the Nigeria Police as a professional institution of law enforcement. Make no mistake: this achievement is not about the gown you will wear in court. It is about the standard you will set in this uniform,” Egbetokun declared, urging them to ensure that the law works for justice, discipline, and the progress of Nigeria.
