‘Our retirement was influenced’… 30 ex-police officers sue Buhari

Thirty senior police officers who were retired in 2016 have challenged their retirement at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, insisting that the force was “influenced” to retire them.

The officers sought the powers of the court to interpret certain parts of the constitution binding on the police service commission and its retirement processes.

The officers sued President Muhammadu Buhari, attorney-general of the federation and inspector-general of police for an “influenced” retirement.

Also joined as co-defendants in the suit, which came up for mention on Monday, are the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force.

While in acting capacity, Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, allegedly wrote to the presidency to retire 30 senior officers.

It was also alleged that the officers, all from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of police, were eventually retired at the instance of the IGP.

The officers are praying the court to interpret certain laws in line with their retirement.

U. Pius, their counsel, told the court that all defendants in the suit were duly served notices on August 16, 2016, to appear in court on Monday but they failed to comply.

He prayed the court for an adjourned date to hear the substantive matter.

However, the court’s records showed that only one defendant, the president, was served notice.

Rakiya Haastrup, the judge, adjourned the case till February 22.

She ordered that notices be duly served on all five defendants in the suit before the adjourned date.