Some aggrieved Police Officers have cried out to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetogun and well concerned Nigerians over their forceful retirement from the police force.
The affected police officers which include members of course 33, 34 and 35 of the force alleged that the former IGP and the Force Secretary refused to obey a court order despite advise from both the PSC, Police Legal dept, and Justice Ministry for police to obey the order.
They also claimed that the police obeyed similar court order in favour of their ASP counterparts, and they are still in force.
They disclosed this in a statement which reads:
- We are force entrance cadet inspectors course 33./1994, 34/1996 and 35/2000.
- That on the 21st April 2021 that cadet ASP Course 18/1994 19/1996 and 20/2000 went to court on the issue of the regularization of the date of appointment into the force and judgement was given in their favour that the date of their first appointment into the force is the date stated in their appointment letter.
- That based on the above judgement that the police authorities called them to come and update their records pursuant to the implementation of the court judgement.
- That since all of us were trained together, the same year the same police academy keno that we also went to force to equally update our records but lo and behold we were told by the force secretary, the AIG Inuwa Haifize that the judgement did not include cadet inspectors. That we should go and get our own judgement.
- Based on his instructions, we the cadet inspectors went to court, got our judgement but the police authorities refused to comply with the judgement as they did to the cadet ASPs judgement.
- That this point we were confused and couldn’t comprehend on what basis is police authorities dumping our court judgement which the force sec. requested that we should get to the dustbin?
- This is the same judgement from the same court and delivered by the same judge.
- It is pertinent to mention that the police authorities in a bid to legalise its actions wrote to its own legal department for legal advice. The legal department also advised the police authorities to comply with the court order. Also the police service commission has written two to three letters instructing the police authorities to implement the court order under the former chairman of the commission. Still the police authorities under the control of IGP Alikali developed a deaf ear to all the advises and instructions.
- Close to one year after obtaining our judgement and it was not complied with, and despite all efforts made by our lawyer to ensure that the judgement is implemented he was left with no other option than to proceed to court for contempt against the police authorities excluding the police service commission who at that time made it clear that the judgement be implemented.
- While this was going on some of our coursemate were asked to go on retirement contrary to the court judgement.
- The then IGP letf without obeying to court order saying that let him see who will carry him to the court even when the court requested for his presence and that of the force sec
- Then came the new IGP KAYODE EGBETUKON and the new chairman of PSC DR SOLOMON ARAESE. We were hopeful that they will comply with the court judgement. But unfortunately our hopes were thrown to the dogs.
- Then along the line that the chairman of the commission now wrote letter to the IGP instructing him to extract a voluntary letter of retirement from us. That which we could not give in to their instructions that the police authorities has stopped our salaries and removed us from office thereby keeping us redundant while our ASP counterparts are enjoying their offices and receiving their salaries.
They disclosed that the Judgment of The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja was presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice O. O. Oyewumi delivered since the 19th day of April 2022 in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/281/2021 – CSP EGONG EGWU EGONG & 3 ORS (For themselves and as representing all members of Courses 33, 34 & 35 (Force Entrants Cadet Inspectors) of the Police Academy) Vs. POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION & 2 ORS.
The Honourable Court held that the decision of the Police Service Commission in its Plenary meeting in relation to the regularization of the date of first appointment of all members of Courses 33, 34 & 35 is valid and subsisting and therefore stopped the plan or attempt to retire some of them who have not reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 years and who have not put in 35years of pensionable service in the Force.
Incidentally the Police Authority had implemented the earlier Judgments of the same Court involved other Police Officers, but for inexplicable reasons, refused bluntly to obey the Judgment involving Courses 33, 34 & 35.
Some of the beneficiaries includes: CP Ben Ikwe, FCT Command, CP Peter Okpara, ACP Obo Obo Ukam, ACP Akpan Brown, AIG Forcid Annex Lagos.
However, when our correspondent contacted the FPRO, to respond to the matter, he advised that the aggrieved officers should exercise some patience and approach the appropriate quarters.
He said; “I need to advise them to be patient. Let them send representatives to meet with the police hierarchy to discuss the matter mutually. It has been a lingering issue, and I dont know if they have briefed the present IGP and Force Secretary including our legal department. Nobody has any personal interest in their case, and nobody will deny them their rights and priviledges. I am sure that by the time they meet with IGP, the case will be treated on its merit.”
Meanwhile, when we contacted the PSC Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani to also get his response he said; “I am obviously not in a proper picture of this matter. Kindly reach out to the Force PRO for a response to this inquiry.”