The Court of Appeal has ordered the Police Service Commission (PSC) to immediately reinstate compulsorily retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) James C. Idachaba to his rank.
Gatekeepers News reports that the court also reversed a directive requiring Idachaba to refund eight years’ salaries with effect from August 1, 2015.
Justice Mohammed Danjuma delivered the lead judgment in an appeal filed by Idachaba’s lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu SAN, against the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The court held that the PSC’s decision to compulsorily retire Idachaba without a fair hearing was unlawful, null, and void.
The court granted all reliefs sought by Idachaba, except for the demand for N100 million in damages, awarding N2 million instead. The judgment has far-reaching implications for the discipline of senior police officers in Nigeria.
Idachaba had approached the National Industrial Court in 2023, challenging his compulsory retirement and seeking 11 reliefs, including a declaration that the PSC’s decision was unlawful and a demand for his reinstatement. However, the court dismissed his suit, prompting him to file an appeal.
