Police respond to calls for sack, imprisonment of IGP

The Nigeria Police Force has described the call for the sack and imprisonment of Inspector-General Usman Baba as baseless and mischievous.

Some retired police officers made the demand on the grounds that they got a favourable judgment ordering their reinstatement.

They had, through their lawyer, approached the National Industrial Court in April 2022 to challenge the termination of their service.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi on Thursday said the judgment was appealed in suit number NICN/AB/21M/2023 filed on February 8.

A statement by the spokesperson noted that ex-personnel joined the police as recruit constables in 1984 and 1986 respectively.

“Having served for ten years and over, they were admitted as Force Entrants into Cadet Inspector Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the Nigeria Police Academy in 1994, 1996, and 2000 respectively,” he said.

Adejobi explained “Force Entrant” is a scheme where deserving officers with requisite educational records are upgraded to a higher cadre after a training period.

“This implies that the service duration of such officers continues counting and does not automatically restart,” he said, noting that according to Public Service Rules, the retired officers, having served in the public service and received salaries, cannot insist on remaining in service beyond the legally permitted period.

Adejobi added that with the motion for a stay of execution filed by the police, the appeal is slated for hearing at the court’s convenience.

The Force advised members of the public to discountenance publications calling for the sack of the IGP as the law takes its course.