NBA and Police Join Forces to Aid Juvenile Justice Reform

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are committed to reducing the number of over 26,000 children currently in the juvenile justice system without legal representation. This commitment was expressed by Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), the 33rd President of the NBA, during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, at Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya highlighted ongoing projects, including a UNICEF initiative focused on juvenile justice and children's access to justice. She proposed having a lawyer in every police station to train officers at gender desks, aiming to decrease the number of unrepresented children.

Additionally, she suggested a mechanism to sanction unruly lawyers or police officers to prevent clashes during their duties. IGP Disu welcomed the NBA's leadership and expressed the NPF's readiness to enhance collaboration, emphasizing the roles of lawyers and police in protecting citizens' rights and safety.