The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has adjourned the arraignment of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, and the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Maj-Gen Abdulmalik Jibrin (rtd), to March 31, 2026, pending the outcome of a police investigation ordered by the court.
Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi, presiding over Court 5 of the NICN in Abuja, issued the adjournment on Monday after ruling that the court must first receive a police investigation report before the defendants can take their pleas.
The two officials are facing a two-count direct criminal complaint bordering on perversion of justice and conspiracy to commit a felony.
At the hearing, prosecuting counsel A.M. Aduku informed the court that the defendants had been personally served with the criminal summons and that the matter was slated for arraignment.
Justice Adeniyi, however, noted that she had earlier directed the police to investigate the allegations and submit their findings before the commencement of trial.
The prosecutor objected and argued that the arraignment should proceed, but the judge overruled him and reiterated her directive. She then fixed March 31, 2026, for the submission of the police report.
Counsel for the second defendant also claimed his client had not been personally served, but a review of the court’s records showed otherwise.
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The court noted that both defendants were duly served and had not filed any processes or objections.
The case followed a direct criminal complaint filed by NIS officer Dr. Badiru Adeyemi Oluwafemi, who alleged that senior officials obstructed justice and interfered with his career progression after he was assaulted on duty at the Ikoyi Passport Office in Lagos in July 2019.
Badiru claimed he suffered internal injuries after being struck by a senior officer, Umar Mohammed, and was later victimised by the service when he reported the incident.
Although a disciplinary committee cleared him and the NICN later ordered his promotion, he alleged that CG Nandap recommended that his promotion be withheld until he withdrew all pending cases against the service.
He further alleged that Nandap misrepresented to the CDCFIB that he had agreed to an out-of-court settlement, resulting in the withholding of his promotion.
His petition led to the court issuing criminal summons against Nandap and Jibrin.
In a separate matter, Justice Rakiya Haastrup of the NICN has commenced contempt proceedings against five senior NIS and CDCFIB officials for alleged non-compliance with a judgment delivered on December 11, 2023. The case was adjourned to December 17, 2025.
