Police officers of Course 18, 19 and 20 who were compulsorily retired over allegations of age and entry falsification have instituted an action against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP, the Police Service Commission PSC and the Force Secretary of the Police.
The aggrieved officers are demanding the enforcement of an earlier Court order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) that has not been appealed.
The officers pointed out that when the issue came up in 2017, it became a subject of litigation which has been settled since 13th January 2021 by the NICN Abuja Judicial Division in suit Nos NCIN/ABJ/345/2019 and NICN/ABJ/353/2019.
They expressed shock that 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 NICN Abuja, with judgments delivered on January 13, 2021, in suit numbers NCIN/ABJ/345/2019 and NICN/ABJ/353/2019.
Consequently, the officers have again approached the court following a directive from the Police authorities on 10th February 2025 in a signal No DTO 101845/02/25 requesting the affected officers to evacuate their offices.
The current Suit ( NICN/ABJ/28/2025) filed by Edwin Okoro Esq, has ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha and 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 their 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 order 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.”
