Senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, comprising members of Courses 18, 19, and 20, have taken legal action against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the Force Secretary at the National Industrial Court. The lawsuit, led by Edwin Okoro, names ACP Chinedu Emengaha and seven others as claimants, with the PSC, IGP, and Force Secretary listed as defendants.
The claimants are seeking judicial interpretation regarding their appointment dates and retirement status. They argue that previous rulings by the National Industrial Court, particularly judgments by Justice O. Oyewunmi in suits NICN/Abj./345/2019 and NICN/Abj./353/2019, have already settled the matter, affirming their dates of appointment as Cadet Officers. These judgments, implemented since July 29, 2021, should preclude the defendants from revisiting the issue.
The officers are asking the court for several declarations, including that their first appointment dates remain unchanged, their retirement should not be subject to review outside the provisions of the court’s ruling, and that their service should not be merged or reclassified. They also seek an injunction preventing the PSC and IGP from implementing any policies that contravene the court’s earlier decisions, specifically the directive issued on January 31, 2025, that enforced the immediate retirement of officers who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60.
Additionally, they demand a perpetual injunction stopping the forced retirement of officers from Courses 18, 19, and 20 who have not yet met the statutory retirement conditions. The case underscores the persistent tension between the police authorities and senior officers over career progression and service terms.
