Agbakoba Warns State Police Could Oppress Without Safeguards

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, cautioned that state police could easily become instruments of political oppression without strong constitutional safeguards. He urged the federal government to implement significant constitutional reforms to ensure that state police serve the public rather than the interests of state governors.

Agbakoba commended President Bola Tinubu for transmitting an executive bill to the National Assembly on June 26, 2026, aimed at amending Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to establish state police. He stressed the importance of independent institutions, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to maintain democratic integrity and prevent abuse of power.

Agbakoba proposed adopting a constitutional model similar to South Africa's, which guarantees the independence of institutions like the public protector and human rights commission, to protect against executive overreach in Nigeria.