Apprehension In Police, As Ruling Of Retired 400 Officers Case Comes Up

 

There is palpable apprehension in the police, especially at Force Headquarters (FHQ), Louis Edet House, Garki Abuja.

This is as a result of an anticipation of ruling by the National Industrial Court (NIC) of Nigeria on the case of about 400 police officers compulsorily retired last month, February 2025.

Some of the affected officers, including Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chibedu Ambrose Emengaha, and eight others, representing other officers had dragged the Inspector-General of the Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to the NIC.
They represent themselves and all members of Courses, 18, 19 & 20 (Force Entrants) of the Police Academy.

The PSC on January 31st 2025, after an emergency Plenary, directed that all police officers who have served for 35 statutory years, or have attained the age of 60 years should retire with immediate effect.

Subsequently, names of about 400 police officers were compiled and were given letters of comoulsory retirement.

Not convinced by the PSc directive, the affected officers headed for the Industrial Court to seek redress.

 their arguments stem from a letter from PSC of October 2017 to the then IGP directing that the date of appointment as Assistant Superintended of Police (ASP) should be the date of entry into the NPF. The letter particularly referred to officers of courses 18 & 19 of the Police Academy.

The Summons inclusive of the day of such service, cause an appearance to be entered for them in the Summons, which is issued upon the application of ACP Chibedu Ambrose Emengaha and eight others on behalf of other officers in courses 18, 19 and 20.

We learnt that, the PSC and IGP Egbetokun may
have a face off, if the court rules in favour of the aggrieved officers.

In addition, the IGP would have great challenge in reinstating the police officers, whose offices have been occupied by other officers.

Similarly, the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would face financial challenges, if the court rules that the abrupt retirement was hasty, and therefore, caused the officers untold hardship, and, should be paid damages.

However both the PSC and the NPF may challenge the ruling of the NIC