From Haruna Tula – Abuja

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja, today again adjourned the case between forced retired police officers and the Inspector-General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the Police Service Commission (PSC) who are the defendants.

Justice R.B Haastrup of the National Industrial Court adjourned the case till April 7, 2025.

The SUPREME learnt that, the judge wants the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to respond to the originating summons

The case commenced at about 11:00am All parties in the case were in court.

On the issue of interlocutory injunction, after reading similar matters, she concluded that it will not be fair for her to give ruling on the perpetual injunction to compel 1 – 3rd defendants to reverse their decision since they have gone ahead to retire the officers without adhering to the 7/2/2025 Summon served on them, hence, the adjournment to give room for the substantive case of the originating Summons to be heard.

Meanwhile, they have been given opportunity to file whatever they need to file for them to justify the reason they took the decision.

Last week, Justice R.B Haastrup adjourned the case till today Monday March 17, 2025.

The SUPREME learnt that, last week adjournment was necessitated by failure of lawyers to IGP Egbetokun and that of Force Secretary to appear in court.

The SUPREME earlier reported that, there was palpable apprehension in the police, especially at Force Headquarters (FHQ), Louis Edet House, Garki Abuja, last week, as
a result of the anticipated 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.

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.

The SUPREME learnt that, 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.

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