The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned what it describes as a constitutional violation by the Nigeria Police Force, following the invitation and purported investigation of the Attorney General of Anambra State and his officers over their lawful decision to withdraw a criminal matter in court.

In a statement signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), and General Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the association described the police action as “an overreach” and a “provocative affront” to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is an overreach for Police to purport to have power to investigate an Attorney General for discontinuing a criminal matter,” Osigwe said, referencing the constitutional powers granted to state attorneys general under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution.

The NBA was reacting to a recent move by the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit, which reportedly invited, detained, and later released the Director of Public Prosecution and other law officers from the Anambra State Ministry of Justice on bail. The invitation followed their role in entering a nolle prosequi a legal declaration to discontinue a case in a pending criminal matter.

The association further revealed that the Attorney General himself has now been invited by the Police, calling the move not only

unlawful but also a direct threat to the independence of legal officers discharging constitutionally-backed duties.

“The Police need not be educated or reminded that they cannot question the Attorney General’s decision to exercise the power of nolle prosequi, This power is not even subject to judicial review or questioning by other authorities, including the Police,” the NBA said.

The association urged the Inspector General of Police to immediately halt the investigation and to issue a full public apology to the affected officers. It also criticised the practice of summoning state officials to Abuja for routine matters, describing it as a misuse of investigative authority and a disruption to due process.

“The Bar will not sit idly by while the Police brazenly assault the Constitution,” the statement warned, adding that the NBA National Litigation Committee, chaired by Ama Etuwewe (SAN), has been instructed to provide legal defence for the Anambra State officers and pursue redress for abuse of their fundamental rights.

The NBA also urged the legal community to treat this incident as a wake-up call, stressing the need to shield legal officers from harassment and to demand accountability from law enforcement agencies.