The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction stopping the police authorities from implementing the reinstatement of graduates of Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19 and 20 of the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano.
Justice Buhari Sani, in a ruling delivered on September 22, 2026, ordered the affected authorities to suspend any action giving effect to the decision to reinstate the officers pending the hearing and determination of an application for interlocutory injunction.
The ruling, contained in a Certified True Copy obtained by The PUNCH on Monday, was delivered in suit No. NICN/KN/51/2026.
The court also directed the parties to preserve the position that existed immediately before the decision to reinstate the affected officers.
Specifically, the first, second and fifth defendants, as well as their officers, servants, agents and privies, were restrained “from implementing, giving effect to or enforcing the decision approving the reinstatement” of the graduates of Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19 and 20 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
The court further directed the affected defendants “to maintain the status quo existing immediately before the decision to reinstate” the officers.
It also ordered the applicant to serve the ruling, the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction and the originating summons on the relevant parties within three days.
The order followed an application by Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiatives, which challenged the reinstatement of the officers.
In its originating summons, supported by a 29-paragraph affidavit sworn by Sambo Jibril Jada, the applicants asked the court to prevent the first, second and fifth defendants from enforcing the appellate court’s decision pending the determination of the substantive suit.
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They also sought an order directing the defendants to preserve the status quo that existed before the decision to reinstate the officers.
The dispute stems from the retirement of 455 senior police officers by the Police Service Commission, in conjunction with the police leadership, on January 31, 2025.
The affected officers, including AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe and DCP Simon Lough, subsequently approached the National Industrial Court to challenge their compulsory retirement and seek reinstatement as well as payment of their salaries and allowances.
In a judgment delivered on September 30, 2025, Justice R.B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court nullified the retirements and ordered the immediate reinstatement of the affected officers.
The court also barred the PSC and the then Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, from taking further steps in relation to the officers’ retirement.
The Police Service Commission and the police authorities separately appealed the judgment.
However, a three-member panel of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Okorowo, Banjoko and Abang, dismissed the commission’s appeal and upheld the decision of the industrial court.
Earlier, on March 16, 2026, the same appellate court had struck out a separate appeal filed by the Inspector-General of Police and the Force Secretary over the matter.
The latest development introduces another legal obstacle to the implementation of the reinstatement order, despite the Court of Appeal having affirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court.
The National Industrial Court is expected to hear the application for interlocutory injunction on September 30, 2026.