Angry DIG sues PSC for forceful retirement, seeks N550m damages

A Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Moses Jitoboh, who was forcefully retired, has prayed the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja to declare his retirement by the Police Service Commission wrongful, unconstitutional, and unlawful.

Jitiboh said he was compulsory retired before his mandatory 60 years retirement age or 35 years in service.

In his statement of claims filed before the court, the retired DIG     described his compulsory retirement as a flagrant violation of Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules and Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, respectively.

The PUNCH reports that the PSC had in a statement on Monday, August 28, 2023, announced the retirement of DIG Jitoboh and three others on the grounds of upholding police tradition of retiring officers when a junior police officer is promoted over senior officers to avoid ‘status reversal’.

Retired DIG Jitoboh is praying for an order of the court directing the PSC to pay N500 million only as general damages for the unwarranted embarrassment caused by the purported termination of his employment as he had been portrayed to be a disloyal officer.

He is also asking for another sum of N50 million as the cost of prosecuting the ongoing action.

Jitoboh, in his statement of claims, maintained that he was and remains an officer of the Nigeria Police Force until the 10th day of June, 2029 when he would have attained 35 years in service and duly retire, and that he is therefore entitled to his salaries, emoluments and all other paraphernalia of office due to him.

The compulsorily retired DIG is also seeking the declaration of the National Industrial Court that pursuant to Section 4 (3) of the Police Service Commission Act, 2001 the defendant (PSC) has no valid board to take any decision whatsoever purporting to retire or promote any police officer as the PSC Board tenure elapsed in July of 2023.