Disengaged Police Officers Appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Seek Reinstatement

Linus Aleke in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

Some recently disengaged police officers have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to recall them to the force as directed by the National Industrial Court.
This was as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has intensified and reinvigorated their strategies in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of criminality across the country.
The aggrieved ex-cops, who were members of Course 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.
They challenged the action of the police at the industrial court, Abuja and got the favourable judgment in April 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, the aggrieved officers said the National Industrial Court had directed the IGP to re-engage them but the latter allegedly failed to yield to the directives.
According to the letter, the force 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.
“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,” the letter read.

The officers urged the President to use his  office to further direct the IGP,  to without further delay, “expedite action on the regularisation of their dates of appointment as directed in the court judgement from a competent jurisdiction and without any appeal against it.”

Meanwhile, the Police have intensified and reinvigorated their strategies in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of criminality across the country.

They also said this determined and sustain efforts against  kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of criminality across the federation resulted in the successful rescue of numerous victims and the apprehension of several suspects.
A statement by Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that over the past week, coordinated operations were conducted in various states, including Lagos and Kwara States, leading to the rescue of 13 individuals who had earlier been kidnapped and held for ransom, and the arrest of several armed robbery suspects.
“On the 27th of December 2024, Police operatives attached to the Kwara State Command mobilised and stormed a den of kidnappers in the Idofin-Igbana area of the state, after receiving a distress call of the abduction of 13 persons.

“The operatives encountered resistance from the kidnappers but successfully overpowered the kidnappers, causing them to flee the scene with various degrees of injuries and leading to the successful rescue of the 13 kidnapped victims.

“Similarly, on the 28th of December 2024, following a report of a public disturbance at Pinnacle Depot, Lekki, Police operatives attached to the Lagos State Command visited the scene and accosted two individuals identified as Lawan Mustapha ‘m’ 38 years, and Aina Daniel ‘m’ 38 years.

“A thorough search was carried out, resulting in the recovery of one double-barrel rifle, 90 live cartridges, and five model rifles. The suspects are currently in custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“Furthermore, on the same day, at about 12:45 PM, Police operatives of the Lagos State Command arrested three suspected armed robbers at GRA Ikeja,” he said.