By Becky Usman

Moses Ambakina Jitoboh, a retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, has approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja, seeking a declaration that his compulsory retirement by the Police Service Commission (PSC) before reaching his mandatory retirement age of 60 years or completing 35 years of service was wrongful, unconstitutional, and unlawful.

In his legal submission to the court, Jitoboh argued that his enforced retirement flagrantly violated Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules and Section 18 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

It should be noted that the PSC had purportedly retired DIG Jitoboh and three other officers, citing the tradition of retiring senior officers when junior officers are promoted to avoid “status reversal.”

The retired DIG is also seeking an order from the court directing the PSC to pay him the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for the undue embarrassment caused by his alleged termination, which portrayed him as disloyal. Additionally, he is requesting another sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) to cover the costs of prosecuting his case.

Jitoboh maintained in his statement of claims that he remained an officer of the Nigeria Police Force until June 10, 2029 when he would have completed 35 years of service and retired as required. Consequently, he believes he is entitled to his salaries, emoluments, and all other benefits due to him.

He is also seeking a declaration from the National Industrial Court that, in accordance with Section 4(3) of the Police Service Commission Act, 2001, the defendant (PSC) lacks a valid board to make decisions regarding the retirement or promotion of any police officer, as the PSC Board’s tenure expired in J