Court announces date to give judgment on suit by 400 Policemen over forced retirement
Court announces date to give judgment on suit by 400 Policemen over forced retirement
A National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has scheduled March 17, 2025, to deliver its ruling on a case filed by over 400 police officers who claim they were unjustly forcefully retired from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The officers, from Police Academy Courses 18, 19, and 20, are seeking redress over what they describe as unlawful retirement.
The lawsuit, filed by representatives of the affected officers, including ACP Chinedu Emengaha, ACP Victor Chilaka, ACP Egwu Otu, and several CSPs, argues that they were wrongfully retired without following the due legal process.
They stress that they had not reached the mandatory retirement age at the time of their dismissal from service.
The defendants in the case include the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Force Secretary of the Nigeria Police.
During a hearing on Tuesday, the claimants’ counsel, Chief Goddy Uche, SAN, expressed concerns that despite the case being before the court, police authorities had proceeded to reduce the ranks of some of the officers and retire them without legal justification.
Uche also noted the absence of any legal representation from the 2nd and 3rd defendants in court.
Justice R. Haastrup, presiding over the case, informed the parties that the ruling, which was initially expected that day, was not yet ready.
She directed all parties to return to court on the newly scheduled date of March 17, 2025, for the ruling.
