The Nigeria Police Force has agreed to comply with the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, regarding 92 officers who were forcefully retired before reaching the statutory retirement age.

The affected officers, who were members of Course 33, 34, and 35 of the Nigeria Police Academy, were retired in 2021 despite not attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 or completing 35 years in service.

Dissatisfied with their forced retirement, the officers challenged the decision in court.

In April 2022, the NICN ruled in their favour, ordering their reinstatement.

However, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the Secretary of the Police Force allegedly failed to implement the judgment.

Frustrated by the non-compliance, the officers returned to court, seeking a contempt order against the IGP for disobeying the ruling.

Following this, the police directed the affected officers to report to Abuja in August 2024 for documentation, a step believed to be a precursor to their reinstatement.

However, after the documentation process, no further action was taken.

Last week, during a committal proceeding at the NICN, the officers? lawyer, Mr. Adeleke Agbola (SAN), urged the court to enforce the reinstatement order pending the hearing of the contempt case.

?This is a contempt proceeding. Some urgent issues have arisen since we filed this application. The PSC issued a circular stating that the officers? initial date of entry into the police force?not their entry into the academy?would be used to calculate their service years.

?However, the court had ruled that their service years should be calculated from their academy entry date. There is no appeal against this judgment. I urge the court to maintain the status quo until the committal proceedings determine whether there has been a breach of the judgment,? Agbola argued.

Responding, counsel for the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Ade Adedeji (SAN), assured the court that steps were being taken to comply with the ruling.

He confirmed that the judgment had not been challenged and pledged that the police would abide by the court?s decision.

?We have taken steps to obey the court?s judgment. There is no appeal against it; it is final. The circular in question does not affect the claimants and does not prejudice any party in this matter. All the affected officers have been posted. I give an undertaking that the police will comply with the judgment and uphold the rule of law,? Adedeji stated. (The PUNCH)

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