The Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, ordered parties in the
suit challenging the recruitment of 10,000 police constables to stay
any action in the interim.
The judge, Inyang Ekwo, held that this is necessary since parties have
submitted themselves to court for settlement of the matter.
“Stay within bound until the matter is determined. You have submitted
yourself to court, abide by the rule of law,” Mr Ekwo held.
The counsel representing the defendants, Alex Izinyon’s effort to
prevail on the court that the police had already concluded the
recruitment and the list of successful candidates had been released
was refused by the court.
“Parties should not go beyond what it is now,” the court ruled.
Meanwhile, during the court session on Wednesday, Mr Izinyon informed
the court of an application seeking to join the Attorney General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as a party in
the suit.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Mr Agabi did not object to that application.
Following this, Justice Ekwo granted the request and joined the AGF as
a party, adding that the joining of the AGF would give expeditious
disposition of the suit.
The court adjourned to November 4 for mention.
Suit
The Police Service Commission (PSC) had taken the Nigeria Police Force
to court over the recruitment of 10,000 constables as approved by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The suit with the number, FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2019, was filed by the
plaintiff’s counsel, Kanu Agabi.
The defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Police Force (first), the
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed (second) and the
Minister of Police Affairs (third).
In the motion on notice filed on September 24, the commission is
praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining
the defendants from ”appointing, recruiting or attempting to appoint
or recruit by any means whatsoever any person into any office by the
NPF pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit”.
The plaintiff also submitted that none of the respondents is
authorised by law to play any role ”in the appointment, promotion,
dismissal or exercise of disciplinary measures over persons holding or
aspiring to hold offices in the Nigeria Police Force”.
The commission said the NPF is presently trying to appoint 10,000
persons into the force in a flagrant usurpation of the functions and
powers of the PSC.
“Unless restrained by an order of this Court, the respondent’s
appointments/recruitments is capable of foisting a fiat accompli on
the judgment of this Honourable Court in this matter,” it argued.
