Let’s be real. The Nigerian Law School taught you the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Police Act. But absolutely nothing prepares a new wig for the reality of walking into a Nigerian police station at 8:00 PM to get a client out on bail.
It is a scary experience, but it is a rite of passage for every litigator. If you want to survive police stations in 2026 without losing your dignity (or your freedom), here are the unwritten rules you need to follow.
- Leave Your Ego at the Gate This is the hardest lesson for young lawyers to learn. Yes, you are a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court. Yes, bail is free and a constitutional right. But guess what? The IPO is the one holding the keys to the cell.
If you go in shouting, banging on the counter, and speaking heavy legal jargon to intimidate them, they will simply frustrate you. They will suddenly tell you, "The DPO who needs to sign the bail has gone home, come back on Monday." Be confident, but be diplomatic. Street smarts will get your client out much faster than arrogance.
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Dress Like a Lawyer Never go to a police station wearing jeans and a t-shirt, even if it is a weekend emergency. If you don't look like a lawyer, they will not treat you like one. Wear a suit, or at least corporate attire, and make sure your NBA Stamp or ID card is visibly in your pocket. Looking the part commands instant respect from the officers at the counter.
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Never Let Them Turn You Into a Surety Sometimes, a client’s family members are not around, and the client starts begging you to stand as their surety so they can go home. "Do not do it".
Your job as a legal practitioner is to facilitate the bail, not to guarantee it. If that client jumps bail and runs away, the police will arrest you. It is a messy situation that destroys careers. Always insist that the client provides a verifiable relative or associate to sign the bail bond.
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Know the "Arrest in Lieu" Rule One of the most common illegal tactics you will see is the police arresting a wife because they are looking for her husband. As a lawyer, this is where your knowledge comes in. "Section 32 of the Police Act 2020" strictly prohibits the arrest of any person in place of a suspect. When you politely but firmly remind the IPO of this specific section, they usually know that you actually know your job.
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Keep the Law in Your Pocket You cannot memorize every single section of the law. Sometimes, an IPO will confidently tell you a fabricated rule just to confuse you. You need a way to quickly fact-check them without carrying heavy textbooks to the station.
"Here is your secret weapon:" Before heading to the station, open JurisAid.ng (https://jurisaid.ng/) on your phone. Simply search for terms like "Police Act", "bail", "unlawful detention", or "arrest in lieu" and JurisAid's Case Finder will surface relevant Nigerian judicial decisions and authorities. You can then use the Case Analyzer to understand the court's reasoning and the legal principles from each decision, giving you the confidence to advocate effectively for your client.
Bookmark the site today, and never get intimidated at the counter again!