Retired DIG Takes Police Service Commission to Court, Seeks ₦550m In Damages

A retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Mr. Moses Ambakina Jitoboh, has taken the Police Service Commission (PSC) to court, contesting his compulsory retirement. He filed a statement of claims in the National Industrial Court in Abuja, alleging that his retirement before reaching the mandatory age of 60 or 35 years in service was wrongful, unconstitutional, and unlawful.

Jitoboh argued that his forced retirement violated Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules and Section 18 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020. The PSC had allegedly retired him and three others to maintain the tradition of promoting junior officers over their seniors to prevent “status reversal.”

In his lawsuit, the retired DIG is requesting the court to order the PSC to pay him ₦500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for the unwarranted embarrassment he endured due to the termination of his employment. He also seeks ₦50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) to cover the cost of prosecuting the case.

Jitoboh maintains 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. He asserts his entitlement to salaries, emoluments, and all other benefits associated with his position.

Additionally, the retired DIG is 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 related to the retirement or promotion of any police officer, as the PSC Board’s tenure expired in July 2023.