Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court in Abuja has thrown out a suit filed by the Police Service Commission (PSC) against recruiting 10,000 police officers by the inspector-general of police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu.
The judge gave the ruling on Monday stating that the suit lacks merit.
He held that the law guiding the enlistment of constables into the NPF was the Nigeria Police Regulations of 1968, issued by the Nigerian President in accordance with the provisions of Section 46 of the Police Act 1967 (No 41), providing for the organisation and administration of the police force.
Justice Ekwo, making reference to section 71 of the Nigeria Police Service Regulations, noted that it gave the power to enlist constables to the Police Council under the control of the IGP and not the PSC.
The court held that the PSC by its enabling law could only appoint constables after the enlistment exercise carried out by the NPF.
He added that the Civil Service Rules cited by the PSC in defining the meaning of “appointment” to include “recruitment” did not apply to the NPF, not being a civil service.
Justice Ekwo held that contrary to the allegation by the PSC that the NPF and the IGP were attempting to usurp its powers to recruit the constables, it was the PSC that was attempting to usurp their powers to do so.
Okay.ng understands that the PSC had dragged Adamu to court over the recruitment of 10,000 constables.
