Court To Determine If IGP Can Recruit

The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed December 4 to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Police Service Commission, PSC, against the Nigeria Police over the recruitment of 10,000 constables.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, fixed the date after hearing arguments from counsel representing parties in the suit.

Arguing on behalf of PSC, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), held that contrary to arguments earlier canvassed by the Attorney- General of the Federation, the fourth defendant in the suit, there was no distinction between recruitment and appointment.

Mr. Agabi further argued that there was no constitutional provision to back the claim that “recruitment of police personnel from time immemorial has been done by the Inspector -General of Police, IGP.

He said it was the responsibility of the PSC to recruit police personnel and not that of the IGP and that allowing the IGP to conduct recruitment, would be usurping powers of the commission.

He prayed the court to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the suit.

Canvassing arguments on behalf of the first to third defendants, the Nigeria Police, the IGP, and the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Alex Iziyon, SAN, described the suit as frivolous and scandalous.

He urged the court to dismiss the suit saying it was an abuse of court process.

For his part, Mr Terhemba Agbe, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, insisted that there was a distinction between recruitment and appointment.

Agbe told the court that the AGF had advised both parties to work in harmony, that the IGP should conduct recruitment into the police and the names of those found worthy would be forwarded to the PSC for appointment.

The judge ordered that on the day of the judgement, no employee of the police or PSC should be in the court gallery.