Disengaged Police Officers Seek Re-absorption As Directed By Industrial Court

By Ayodele Oni

Some recently disengaged Police Officers have appealed to the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to comply with the judgement of the National Industrial Court, which ordered their reinstatement.

The affected cops, claimed that their appointments were hurriedly terminated by the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) when they were yet to attain retirement age.

They also pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to direct the IGP to comply with  the judgement of the National Industrial Court.

The aggrieved ex-cops, who are members of Courses 33, 34 and 35 of the Nigeria Police Academy, were said to have been  forcefully retired from the police service when they had not spent 35 years in service or attained 60 years of age.

The National Industrial Court, Abuja had delivered judgment in  the case since 2022, but the defendants – the IGP, the Police Service Commission and the Secretary of the Police Force, allegedly refused to enforce the judgment till date

In an open letter to the President, through their lawyer, Mr Olatoye Adejola, made available to our correspondent on Sunday, the aggrieved officers pointed out that the National Industrial Court had directed the IGP to re-engage them.

According to the letter, the Police ordered the concerned cops to report to Abuja in August 2024, for documentation with expectation that they would be reabsorbed into force, but after the documentation, nothing was heard from the force on the matter.

The letter reads, “We are solicitors to Police Officers who are members of Courses 33, 34 and 35 (Force Entrants) of the Police Academy of the Nigeria Police Force (hereinafter referred to as “our clients”) and on whose mandate we write this  letter of complaint as a corollary to our previous letters and other steps already taken by our clients to ease their long time suffering and pains as a result of inaction of the police authorities.

“We wish to express our deep concerns about the failure of the Inspector General of Police in ensuring compliance and implementation of the directive of the Commission to the effect that the Industrial Court judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/281/2021 be enforced, and all officers affected by the judgment are to have their dates of appointment regularized.

“Our clients were very elated and optimistic when they received signals to report at Abuja between 12th and 16th August, 2024 for further documentation with a view to receiving their letter  of posting for the officers to resume at their duty posts and subsequently having their salary restored.

“However, over two months after the documentation had been concluded, no official statement was made or any information received from the IGP.

“Our clients are confused and at the same time in total dismay as they are in darkness as to what exactly is the problem, having completed the documentation processes.”