‘Calls For IGP’s Sack Baseless, Mischievous’ – Police Appeal Industrial Court Ruling

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Thursday described the call for the sack and imprisonment of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) by some retired police officers, who received a judgment for their reinstatement into the Force, as baseless and mischievous.

Naija News recall that some retired police officers received a favourable judgment after they had approached the National Industrial Court in April 2022 to challenge their retirement.

But the Police authorities had filed an appeal in suit number: NICN/AB/21M/2023 on Wednesday 8th February, 2023, and are currently in court awaiting a hearing and subsequent judgment on the appeal.

In a statement to newsmen, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “For the records, the said retired police officers joined the Nigeria Police Force as recruit constables in 1984 and 1986 respectively. Having served for ten years and over, they were privileged to be admitted as Force Entrants into Cadet Inspector Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the Nigeria Police Academy in 1994, 1996, and 2000 respectively.

“It is pertinent to note that “Force Entrant” is a scheme by the Nigeria Police Force where deserving officers with requisite educational records are upgraded to a higher cadre after a brief training period at the Police Academy or at any approved Police College, and as such, not a fresh appointment.

“Essentially, this implies that the service duration of such officers continues counting and does not automatically restart. Therefore, according to the Public Service Rules, the retired officers, having served in the public service and received salaries as required by law, cannot insist on remaining in service beyond the legally permitted period. Consequently, the purported call for their reinstatement is strange to the law and unrealistic.”

He stated that the Nigeria Police Force has filed a motion for a stay of execution while the appeal is slated for hearing at the Court’s convenience.

Adejobi urged members of the public to discountenance publications that were widely circulated in the news, calling for the sack of the IGP on the above grounds as they are “baseless, malicious, and mischievous.”

He assured the public of its continued commitment to entrenching respect for the rule of law both within the policing system and in the discharge of policing services to the general public.