The National Industrial Court on Monday ordered the Police Service Commission, to pay retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Joseph Mbu, the sum of N40 million as general damages.
The payment as ordered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, was for the unlawful retirement of Mbu before he attained the mandatory age of 60 years.
“I hold that the claimant’s premature retirement through a press release on July 2, 2016, is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void, and of no effect”.
The court in addition set aside the purported retirement and declared that the claimant remained an officer of the Nigeria Police Force until he attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 on May 10, 2018.
Furthermore, the court ordered the defendant to pay Mbu his salaries, allowances, and entitlement from July 2, 2016, when he was retired until May 10, 2018, when he ought to have retired having attained 60 years.
The judge while delivering the judgment ordered that the sum of N750,000 be paid to the claimant as the cost of the suit, stating that failure of the defendant to comply with the orders of the court within 30 days will attract a 10 percent interest per annum.
The court, however, declined the relief of promotion to the position of a DIG and reinstatement sought by the claimant.
