Police Officers Forced Out Of Service Drag IGP & PSC To Court, Seek Enforcement Of Earlier Unappealed Order

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Police officers of course 18, 19 and 20 who were forcefully retired on accusation of age and entry falsification have dragged the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Force Secretary of the Police to court; demanding the enforcement of an earlier unappealed Court order of the Nigerian Industrial Court.

 

The officers averred that when the issue reared its ugly head in 2017, the matter which became that of litigation had been settled since 13th January 2021 by the industrial court of Nigeria in Abuja judicial Division in suit Nos NCIN/ABJ/345/2019 and NICN/ABJ/353/2019 stressing that they are shocked that both the Police authority and the Police Service Commission have yet to enforce the judgement.

 

The affected officers, who were part of Force Entrants Courses 18, 19, and 20, were wrongly accused of falsifying their service records. However, Court documents reveal that the issue had been settled in their favour by the Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja, with judgments delivered on January 13, 2021, in suit numbers NCIN/ABJ/345/2019 and NICN/ABJ/353/2019.

They have therefore, approached the Court again because of insinuation that over 200 Policemen falsified Police records and have resigned following the Police authority order on 10th February 2025 in a signal No DTO 101845/02/25 asking the affected officers to evacuate their offices.

 

The present Suit with No: NICN/ABJ/28/2025 filed by Edwin Okoro Esq, has ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & seven others as Claimants, with the Police Service Commission, Inspector General of Police and Force Secretary, Nigeria Police as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants.

 

In the Originating Summons, the Claimants are seeking the determination of the following relieves:  “Whether taking into consideration the judgement of the National Industrial Court Abuja delivered by Hon. Justice O.O. Iyewunmi in Suit NHS NICN/ABJ/ 345/2019 – ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & Ors and NICN/ABJ/353/2019- CSP Sunday Okuguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, resolving the issues of date of appointment of Cadet officers(Force  Entrants) as the date of their first appointment and the said judgement having been implemented by the defendants since 29th July 2021, the defendants are not estopped from reopening the issue of their first appointment.

 

“A declaration  that the date of first appointment into service of the Claimants as contained in their respective appointment letters are not subject to a review by the defendants; a declaration that members of Cadet ASP (Force Entrants) of course 18, 19 and 20 who are yet to serve 35 years of pensionable service nor attained the age of 60 years are by virtue of the said judgement of the National Industrial Court delivered by Hon. O.O Oyewunmi in suit no NICN/ABJ./345/2019 – ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors and NICN/ABJ./353/2019 CSP Sunday  Okoguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, excluded from the decision of the first extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday 31st January 2025 , approving the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service or above 60 years in age.

 

The officers are seeking a further declaration that, by virtue of the said judgments of the National Industrial Court affirming the dates of appointment of Claimants as Cadet Officers as fresh appointment, the said appointment is not a merger of service.

 

“A declaration that the defendant cannot by any decision, set aside the valid and subsisting judgements of the National Industrial Court delivered by Hon. Justice O.O. Oyewunmi  in suit Nos NICN/ABJ./345/2019 – ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, and NICN/ABJ./353/2019 CSP Sunday Okoguni& Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, already implemented by the defendants since July 29th 2021.

“An oder setting aside the 1st defendants directive to the 2nd paper 3rd Defendants  contained in the press release of 31st January 2025 as it concerns Courses 18, p19, and 20 ( Force Entrants); a further order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Defendants jointly and severally from unlawfully and illegally reviewing the issue of dates of appointment of Cadet ASPs of Force Entrants –Courses 18, 19 & 20 already settled by the Judgments of the National Industrial Court and  an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Defendants jointly and severally from unlawfully and illegally retiring any member of Cadet ASPs of Force Entrants – Courses 18, 19 & 20 who has not served 35 years in service nor attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.”