The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Nigeria has dismissed an appeal filed by the Police Service Commission, affirming the reinstatement of 455 senior police officers whose retirements were earlier nullified.
In its judgment delivered on Wednesday, the appellate court upheld the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which had declared the retirement of the officers unlawful and ordered their immediate reinstatement, along with the payment of their salaries and allowances.
The case, filed as an appeal against the lower court’s ruling, stemmed from a suit instituted by ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha and eight others, who challenged what they described as their illegal and forceful retirement from service.
The National Industrial Court, in its September 30, 2025 judgment delivered by Justice R.B. Haastrup, had also restrained the commission and the then Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, from taking any further steps related to the retirement.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, both the Police Service Commission and the police leadership approached the appellate court. However, a three-member panel comprising Justices Okorowo, Banjoko and Abang dismissed the commission’s appeal, thereby affirming the lower court’s judgment in its entirety.
The ruling followed an earlier decision by the same court on March 16, 2026, which struck out a separate appeal filed by the Inspector-General of Police and the Force Secretary, describing it as frivolous.
The dispute originated from the decision of the Police Service Commission, in collaboration with the police leadership, to retire 455 senior officers on January 31, 2025—a move that sparked widespread controversy within the Nigeria Police Force.
Among those affected were senior officers such as AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe and DCP Simon Lough, among others, who subsequently sought legal redress.
Legal observers say the appellate court’s ruling has effectively settled the dispute, particularly regarding the date of first appointment of Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19 and 20 entrants.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have urged the current Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Police Service Commission to comply fully with the judgment, noting that the Court of Appeal is the final authority in matters arising from the National Industrial Court.
