The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by the Police Service Commission (PSC) against the judgment of the National Industrial Court which nullified the compulsory retirement of 455 senior police officers.
In appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1829MI/2025 between the PSC and ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & eight others, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, describing the mass retirement as unlawful and forceful.
Justice R.B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court had, on 30 September 2025, ordered the immediate reinstatement of the affected officers with full payment of salaries and allowances, while restraining the PSC and then Inspector‑General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, from further interference.
Dissatisfied, the PSC and police leadership lodged separate appeals. However, a three‑man panel of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Okorowo, Banjoko and Abang, dismissed the PSC’s appeal in its entirety. This ruling follows the court’s earlier decision of 16 March 2026 striking out a similar appeal by the Inspector‑General of Police and Force Secretary as frivolous.
The controversy stemmed from the PSC’s directive, in conjunction with Egbetokun, retiring 455 senior officers on 31 January 2025. The move drew criticism for lacking lawful justification, with prominent officers such as AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe and DCP Simon Lough among those affected.
The aggrieved officers approached the National Industrial Court in suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025, which granted all reliefs sought, including reinstatement. Legal analysts note that the appellate court’s affirmation has now settled disputes over the date of first appointment for Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19 and 20.
Stakeholders have urged the current Inspector‑General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the PSC to comply promptly with the judgment, stressing that the Court of Appeal remains the final appellate authority in matters arising from the National Industrial Court.
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