Again, court orders IGP, PSC to maintain status quo on police recruitment

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to maintain the status quo in the recruitment of 10,000 police officers across the country.

The judge had on October 23 ordered parties in a suit challenging the recruitment to stay any action on the matter.

The ordered followed a suit instituted against the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) by the PSC.

PSC had in its suit prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from ”appointing, recruiting or attempting to appoint or recruit by any means whatsoever any person into any office by the NPF pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The plaintiff also submitted that none of the respondents is authorised by law to play any role ”in the appointment, promotion, dismissal or exercise of disciplinary measures over persons holding or aspiring to hold offices in the Nigeria Police Force.”

When the matter came up for hearing on October 23, counsel to the PSC, Barth Ogar, told Justice Ekwo that the IGP was going ahead with the recruitment process despite the court’s order restraining him.

He said: “My Lord, in fact, the police has gone ahead to carry out the recruitment exercise in spite of the court’s order.

”The recruited officers have been asked to report to various Police Training Schools in the country.’’

READ ALSO: Justice Iheme’s abduction, ‘saddest reminder of a beleaguered nation in the asphixiating throes of death’ —Ozekhome

But, counsel to the NPF, Mr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had told the court that since the recruitment exercise had got to a certain stage, the court should not have maintained the status quo stand.

Dissatisfied with the judge’s decision, he threatened to withdraw from the case, if Justice Ekwo did not avail him the opportunity to justify his stance as he did to his colleague, Ogar.

The matter was then adjourned till November 4 (today), for mention.

When it came up on Monday, the judge insisted on his earlier stand that parties in the matter should maintain the status quo.

Minister of Police Affairs has been joined as a respondent in the matter.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now