Former police spokesperson says he wants to use his policing experience and legal training to protect rights and strengthen confidence in the justice system.
Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba has opened a law firm in Abuja, months after retiring from the Nigeria Police Force following 34 years of service.
The firm, FRANK MBA LEGAL, was unveiled on Friday, 9 October 2026, at its office in Wuse 2, Abuja. The event also marked Mba’s birthday and attracted serving and retired police chiefs, government officials, business leaders and other dignitaries.
Mba said he established the firm to continue serving society through the legal profession, drawing on his experience in policing, public communication, institutional leadership and justice administration.
His move comes as he begins a new professional chapter outside the police force, where he served three times as Force Public Relations Officer and held several senior positions.
Why Mba is returning to legal practice
Mba said his decision to establish the firm followed his desire to apply the experience he gained in law enforcement and public service to legal practice.
“Retirement is not the end of service; it is an opportunity to serve in a different capacity. My years in the Nigeria Police Force provided me with invaluable experience in leadership, discipline, conflict management and the administration of justice. I intend to bring these lessons, alongside my legal training, into this new chapter.
“For me, the law is not merely a profession; it is an instrument for protecting rights, resolving disputes, upholding justice and strengthening confidence in our institutions. At FRANK MBA LAW, our ambition is to build a practice that clients can trust and that consistently upholds the highest standards of professional conduct,” he said.
His remarks outline the principles he hopes will guide the firm. However, the firm’s actual impact will depend on the quality of its legal services, its professional conduct and the outcomes it achieves for clients.
From police leadership to private practice
Mba retired from the Nigeria Police Force in March 2026 after 34 years of service. His retirement followed changes in the force’s senior leadership after the appointment of a new Inspector-General of Police.
During his career, he served three times as Force Public Relations Officer, a position that placed him at the centre of the police’s communication with the public and the media.
He also served as Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State and Commissioner of Police in Ogun State. His other assignments included senior operational and administrative responsibilities within the force.
As a member of the police management team, Mba was responsible for the Department of Training and Development, where he contributed to the professional development of police personnel.
His background also includes international service. He was part of Nigeria’s police contingent to the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2006 to 2007 and received a United Nations Medal for his service.
These roles gave him experience in policing, public administration and institutional communication. However, his performance as a police officer does not, on its own, establish the quality of the legal services his new firm will provide.
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Academic qualifications and legal experience
Mba’s legal background predates his retirement from the police.
He obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos and attended the Nigerian Law School, where he received an award. He later earned a Master of Laws degree with distinction from the University of Dundee in Scotland.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002.
These qualifications provide a foundation for his move into private legal practice. His experience in policing may also prove useful in cases involving criminal justice, law enforcement and the administration of justice.
However, the firm’s areas of specialisation, fee structure, staffing and plans for serving clients have not been detailed in the announcement.
What the new law firm could mean for clients
Mba’s entry into private practice could bring additional legal expertise to clients seeking representation in matters involving criminal justice, civil disputes and interactions with law enforcement agencies.
His knowledge of police procedures and institutional decision-making could be particularly relevant to cases involving arrests, investigations, detention and the protection of individual rights, provided these fall within the firm’s chosen areas of practice.
His stated commitment to protecting rights and resolving disputes also raises an important public-interest question: how will the firm translate these principles into affordable, accessible and effective legal services?
The announcement did not specify whether the firm would offer pro bono representation, reduced fees for low-income clients or legal assistance to people who cannot afford private lawyers.
Such initiatives could extend the firm’s reach beyond commercial clients and make its stated commitment to public service more tangible.
There is also a potential risk to public confidence if clients perceive that a former senior police officer’s institutional connections could influence the handling of cases. This is not evidence of wrongdoing by Mba or his firm, but it underlines the importance of transparency, professional independence and compliance with legal and ethical standards.
The firm’s credibility will ultimately depend on how it handles clients’ interests, protects confidential information and maintains professional independence.
Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba at the unveiling of his law firm in Abuja on 9 October 2026.
Questions the firm will need to answer
The launch establishes Mba’s intention to practise law, but several issues remain unresolved.
These include the firm’s main practice areas, its approach to legal fees, its capacity to represent clients who cannot afford private legal services and the safeguards it will use to manage potential conflicts of interest.
Its approach to cases involving police conduct could also attract public attention, given Mba’s former position within the force. Clear policies on client representation, confidentiality and professional independence would help demonstrate that his new role is distinct from his former public office.
The announcement did not provide details of the firm’s initial caseload, staffing or specific public-interest programmes. There is therefore not yet enough information to assess its likely reach or its contribution to access to justice.
Mba’s stated ambition to protect rights and strengthen confidence in institutions provides a basis against which the firm’s future work can be assessed.
Former police chiefs and other dignitaries attend launch
The unveiling attracted several senior figures from government, law enforcement, business and religious circles.
Among those present were Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and former Inspectors-General of Police Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar and Usman Alkali Baba.
Other guests included Pastor Jerry Eze, convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD), and Chief Sir Emeka Offor, chairman of Chrome Group.
Retired Deputy Inspectors-General of Police Sadiq Abubakar, Tijani Baba and Dan Kwara also attended.
Three serving Deputy Inspectors-General of Police — Ekene Onwuemeelie, Isiyaku Abubakar and Suleiman Mohammed — were also present, alongside members of the National Assembly.
The attendance of these public figures highlighted Mba’s connections across government, law enforcement and other sectors. Their presence, however, does not constitute an endorsement of the firm’s legal services or provide evidence of its future performance.
What happens next?
The next stage for FRANK MBA LEGAL will be to establish its practice, attract clients and demonstrate that it can deliver effective legal representation while maintaining professional independence.
The firm could contribute to the legal services market by bringing Mba’s experience to cases involving law enforcement and the justice system. Its broader public value will depend on the services it provides, the clients it reaches and its commitment to professional standards.
For now, the opening marks the start of Mba’s transition from senior police leadership to private legal practice. Whether that transition will deliver the public-service benefits he has promised will become clearer through the firm’s work, its treatment of clients and its record over time.
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