DIG Drags PSC to Court Over Compulsory Retirement

Mr. Moses Ambakina Jitoboh, a deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police who was retired compulsorily, has brought the Police Service Commission (PSC) before the National Industrial Court (NIC), located in Abuja, for unjust retirement.

In the lawsuit, the DIG asked the court to rule that his alleged forced retirement by the PSC, which occurred prior to his required 35 years of service or 60 years of retirement age, was illegal, unconstitutional, and wrongful.

In addition, Jitoboh claimed that his alleged forced retirement was a flagrant violation of both Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 and Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules in his statement of claims submitted to the court.

In order to preserve police tradition, which calls for a junior police officer to be promoted above a senior in order to prevent “status reversal,” the PSC allegedly retired DIG Jitoboh and three other officers.

In addition, the retired police chief is pleading for a court order compelling the PSC to provide N500 million in general damages for the unjustified humiliation brought on by the alleged termination of his job due to allegations that he was a disloyal officer.

In addition, he requested an additional N50 million to cover the costs of pursuing this legal action.

In his statement of claims, Jitoboh insisted that he was and is still an officer of the Nigeria Police Force until June 10, 2029, at which point he will have served 35 years and be eligible to retire. As a result, he claims he is entitled to his salaries, benefits, and other office-related items.

The former Director of Investigations requested a declaration from the National Industrial Court stating that the PSC Board’s tenure expired in July 2023, and as a result, the defendant (PSC) lacks the legal authority to make any decisions regarding the retirement or promotion of any police officers in accordance with Section 4(3) of the Police Service Commission Act, 2001.

He stated that the PSC board has a joint tenure system and that Mr. Arase’s appointment to serve out the remaining term of Mr. Musiliu Smith, who resigned as PSC chairman in 2022, gives him no legal right to stay in office after the board’s tenure has ended.