Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has charged newly called-to-Bar officers of the Nigeria Police Force to balance their responsibilities as law enforcement agents and legal practitioners in the service of the nation.
Addressing the 98 officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Egbetokun emphasized that their new status doubled their responsibility to the Force, the legal profession, and the Nigerian people. He urged them to embody integrity, professionalism, and discipline while ensuring that every action they take is rooted in the law.
He said, “Your success, therefore, is not for yourselves alone, it is an asset for the Force and for Nigeria. Let me congratulate you on your successful completion of the Nigerian Law School programme and your call to the Bar. I have also been informed that one of you graduated with First Class Honours, a rare and outstanding feat. You have made the Nigeria Police Force proud, and for that, I thank you.
“Policing is about enforcing the law, and no Force can do this effectively without sound legal knowledge. The Police require officers who are not only courageous in the field but also competent in the courtroom and clear in their interpretation of justice.
“Every action we take must be grounded in the law. Every power we exercise must be backed by the law. And every responsibility we bear must be judged by the law. This is why your achievement matters.”
The IGP reminded them that their dual role was not symbolic but strategic, noting that they had returned to the institution “not just as police officers, but as custodians of legal knowledge.” He said this knowledge must be applied to strengthen the Force and serve Nigerians.
Egbetokun further noted that their call to the Bar coincided with the elevation of the Nigeria Police Force into the Directorate of Legal Services, now led by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police. He described the change as a turning point, stating, “This elevation is not symbolic; it is strategic. The Directorate must now deliver sharper legal direction, ensure that our prosecutions are watertight, protect the Force against legal vulnerabilities, and shape policy 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 also cautioned against reducing their role to mere symbolism, saying the Force needed officers who could genuinely add value. “We need lawyers in uniform who will defend this institution with skill, with courage, and with integrity,” he said.
The IGP gave specific charges: “Strengthen prosecutions, ensure that our cases are tight, professional, and beyond compromise. Uphold integrity, let your conduct be above reproach; compromise and corruption must never stain the Directorate. Advise with authority, your legal opinion must be clear, practical, and reliable, such that commanders can trust it without hesitation.
“Advance reforms, help align the Force with constitutional standards, human rights obligations, and international best practices. Inspire others, be role models to officers coming behind you. Prove that police officers can wear the uniform and the lawyer’s gown with distinction.”
He stressed that their new legal qualifications placed them in a unique and demanding position. “Your call to the Bar has doubled your responsibility. You are now accountable to the Force, to the legal profession, and to the Nigerian people. You cannot afford to fail in any of these. Remember this: 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. You must carry yourselves with humility, discipline, and loyalty to the Force.”
Egbetokun also warned them against exploiting their legal expertise for personal gain. Instead, he said: “Channel it into service. Let your competence strengthen this Directorate. Let your integrity inspire this institution. Excellence will be recognised and rewarded. Mediocrity will not be tolerated. You have brought pride to this Force. But pride is not enough. This institution has invested in you. Now, you must 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. The Police, at this time more than ever before, do not just need lawyers who carry titles—it needs officers who will make the law work for justice, for discipline, and for Nigeria.”
