By Ebinum Samuel
The Court of Appeal Abuja division yesterday 14/4/2026 dismissed the appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1829MI/2025 between Police Service Commission Vs ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & 8ors challenging the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Abuja Division which was delivered by Hon. R.B Haastrup setting aside the illegal and forceful retirement of 455 senior police officers by the former IGP kayode Egbetokun and the police service commission on the 31st January, 2025.
This judgment has laid to rest the issue of date of first appointment into the Nigeria police force of Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19 and 20 force entrants of the police Academy.
The Court of Appeal Abuja Division had earlier on the 16/3/2026 struck out a seperate appeal on the same suit No.CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1620MI/2025 filed by the IGP & Force Secretary for being frivolous.
Recall that last year on the 31st January, 2025, the Police Service Commission in conjunction with the then IGP Kayode Egbetokun illegally and forcefully retired 455 senior police officers for no just cause sparking scandals and outrage in the force.
Among the officers illegally and forcefully retired were AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe, DCP Simon Lough SAN amongst others. The affected officers immediately approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025 between ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha and 7ors Vs Police Service Commission and 2ords
On the 30th September 2025 the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Abuja Division in a judgment delivered by Hon. Justice R.B Haastrup granted all the reliefs claimed by the officers and ordered among others that the Police Service Commission and the then IGP Kayode Egbetokun should immediately re-instate the illegally retired officers and pay their salaries and allowances. The court also restrained the Police Service Commission and Egbetokun from further engaging in any illegal acts directed at retiring the affected officers.
Rather than obey the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Egbetokun and Police Service Commission filed seperate appeals against the judgment at the court of Appeal Abuja Division. While the appeal of Egbetokun was struck out for lacking merit on 16/3/2026, that of the Police Service Commission was similarly dismissed yesterday by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division per the concurrent judgment of their Lordships Hon. Justice Okorowo. Hon. Justice Banjoko and Hon. justice Abang.
These landmark judgments have collectively ended the impunity and injustice perpetrated by former IGP Kayode Egbetokun regarding these hardworking and experienced senior officers.
Concerned citizens have expressed the hope that the new IGP Olatunji Disu and the PSC will not follow the path of injustice, administrative impunity and disobedience of court orders as witnessed under his predecessor IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
They expressed the expectation that he and the leadership of the Police Service Commission which is composed of respected retired Supreme Court Justice, seasoned lawyers and retired Senior Police Officers among other respected professionals, will promptly give effect to the judgment and reinstate the officers as ordered by the National Industrial Court and upheld in a unanimous decision by the Appeal Court.
