The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has fixed March 6, 2025, for judgement in a case filed against the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by 4,449 police officers because the IGP refused to decorate them with their new ranks having been promoted and approved by the Police Service Commission under its Act.
After five hours of heated legal arguments between Barr Muka’ila Yahaya Mavo, counsel representing the Claimants in the case, and the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup, the judge heard the arguments of both counsel and adjourned the case to 6th March 2025 for judgement.
Muka’ila Yahaya Mavo argued that the powers of the Police Service Commission concerning the promotion of police officers in Nigeria are sacrosanct, as stated by the Supreme Court in the case of Nigeria Police Force & 2 Ors V. Police Service Commission & 10 Ors (2023) 95, Part 1 NSCQR. Therefore, he said the Inspector General of Police couldn’t remove that power except through legislation by amending the Constitution of Nigeria and the Police Service Commission’s Act.
He further argued that the IGP was appointed by the provisions of the law of the land and is under an obligation to respect that law.
The decision of the Commission was in line with section 6 [1] [a] of the Police Service Commission Act and section 16 [3] [a] of the Police Act. Counsel to the Police Force, CSP Celestine U. Odo, argued that the IGP has the discretion to promote officers.
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