Forceful retirement: Court fixes ruling for March 17, in suit against PSC, IGP

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) will on March 17, deliver ruling on the suit filed by Course 18, 19, and 20 (Force Entrants) of the Police Academy challenging their forceful retirement from Nigeria Police Force by the Police Service Commission (PSC), Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Force Secretary.

The court had earlier fixed ruling for Tuesday, however, Justice R .B. Haastrup shifted the ruling to March 17 after she announced that it was not ready.

Justice Haastrup consequently ordered that hearing notices be served on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Force Secretary who are listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.

Meanwhile, Counsel to the claimants,  Goddy Uche, SAN, informed the court that the 2nd and 3rd defendants, who were not in court, had embarked in self-help while the case is pending in court by allegedly reduced the rank of some of the claimants and retired them from service.

Although, the 2nd and 3rd defendants were not in court nor represented in court, the Judge noted that, at the last proceedings in the matter, the defendants told the court that they would not be in court on Tuesday for the ruling as they have other matter outside jurisdiction, which the court permitted.

The officers, ACP Chinedu Emengaha, ACP Victor Chilaka, ACP Egwu Otu, CSP Sylvester Ebosele, CSP Sunday Okuguni, CSP Asuquo Inyang, CSP Kalu Chikozie, and CSP Adetu Omoteso had sued the PSC, IGP and the Force Secretary, Nigeria Police as 1st to 3rd defendants challenging their unlawful retirement from the Nigeria Police Force without attaining the mandatory years required before retirement and non implementation of court judgment.

The plaintiffs, who sued for themselves and as representing all members of Course 18, 19, and 20 (Force Entrants) of the Police Academy, in their motion on notice marked, NICN/ABJ/28/2025 seek an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from retiring or suspending any of the officers of the Course who are yet to serve 35 years of pensionable service or reach the mandatory retirement age of 60 years from service of the Nigeria Police Force pending the hearing and determination of their substantive suit.

They also want an order restraining the defendants from suspending the salary or posting of any of the officers of Course 18, 19, and 20 (Force Entrants) of the Police Academy.