This has reportedly brought confusion to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who had wanted the officers to be retired from the force.
A fresh legal battle has thrown the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force into turmoil as some senior officers have dragged the Police Service Commission (PSC) to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) over alleged premature retirement.
The case, with Suit No: NICN/ABJ/21M/2023, was filed by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Egong Egwu Egong, Edwin Okoro, and three others before Hon. Justice O. A. Obaseki Osaghae.
The claimants, through their counsel, Adeleke Agbola SAN, argued that the PSC relied on a controversial circular to calculate their years of service from their initial date of entry into the police force rather than from when they entered the Police Academy.
Meanwhile the police lawyers have asked the court to maintain the "status quo" pending the determination of other suits, which meant that the senior officers would not retired at the moment.
This has reportedly brought confusion to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who had wanted the officers to be retired from the force.
The Industrial Court had earlier ruled that the officers' service years should be counted from their academy entry date, a judgment that had not been appealed.
Agbola urged the court to ensure that the status quo remains, pending the determination of committal proceedings to ascertain whether the judgment had been violated.
"The judgment of the court is that the date is when the policemen got into the Academy. There is no appeal against the judgment.
"I urge the court that status quo be maintained pending the hearing of this committal proceedings to determine of there has been a breach on the basis that the judgment of the court must be obeyed," Agbola added.
On the other hand, counsel to the PSC, Ade Adedeji SAN, reassured the court that the commission had taken steps to comply with the ruling.
He stated that there was no appeal against the judgment, making it final, and stressed that the contentious circular did not affect the claimants.
"We have taken steps to obey the courts judgment. The judgment is not challenged as there is no appeal. It is final. The circular has nothing to do with the claimants. It is without prejudice to the parties in this matter.
"We do not intend to do anything to over reach the court. We intend to comply with the judgment of the court and have sworn to the affidavit in this regard. All the claimants have been posted. I give an undertaking that all the defendants are law abiding and will comply with the judgment, and the rule of law," Adedeji assured.
However, Agbola urged the court to set the matter for a hearing on the committal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the case to March 18, 2025, for a report on full compliance with the court's judgment or a hearing on the committal proceedings.