Police, NBA Partner to Reduce Number of Children in Juvenile Justice System
Linus Aleke in Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have expressed their commitment to deepening their partnership to reduce the number of over 26,000
In Abuja, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have vowed to strengthen their collaboration to cut down the over 26,000 children in the juvenile justice system who lack legal representation or defense. NBA's 33rd president, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, announced this commitment during her visit to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu.
Badejo-Okusanya outlined various projects the NBA is working on, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the police, particularly in a UNICEF project on juvenile justice and children's access to justice. She proposed a solution to reduce the number of unsupervised children in the system: appointing a lawyer to each police station, especially at gender desks, to train officers and ensure legal aid for children.
Badejo-Okusanya highlighted the shared responsibility of lawyers and police in protecting democracy and citizens' rights, aiming for a stronger partnership to improve children's access to justice.
IGP Disu welcomed the NBA's renewed commitment, expressing the police's willingness to deepen their collaboration. He pointed out that while lawyers protect citizens' rights, police safeguard lives and property. Disu urged the NBA to help address the issue of police privacy violations during official duties, advocating for better institutional harmony between both entities.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
