The court ruled that the officer was wrongly dismissed in 2002.

The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to reinstate a dismissed Chief Superintendent of Police, Abayomi Dosunmu.

The President of the Court, Babatunde Adejumo, gave the order on Monday when he delivered judgment in a case of unlawful dismissal filed against the force by Mr. Dosunmu.

Mr. Adejumo also ordered the police to pay Dosunmu his entitlements.

In his ruling, the judge held that the defendants did not follow the procedure in the discipline and dismissal of an officer as encapsulated in the police service rule. He also held that the defendant’s action was illegal, null and void and ordered that the claimant be reinstated to his rank.

“It is hereby ordered that the claimant be reinstated to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police by the defendants and paid all the entitlements owed him.

“No damages shall be awarded to the claimant and this shall be the final judgment of this court,” Mr. Adejumo ruled.

The claimant, who joined the force as an assistant superintendent in 1980, told the court that he was dismissed in 2002 without fair hearing.

Mr. Dosunmu had joined the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Attorney- General of the Federation as defendants in the suit. He prayed the court to make a declaration that the defendants did not give him fair hearing before his purported dismissal and to declare same as illegal, null and void.

The claimant also prayed the court to order the defendants to reinstate him and pay him all his entitlements or pay his entitlements from the date of dismissal to his expected date of retirement.

During the hearing of the case, the claimant’s counsel, Tehemba Gbashima, had told the court that the 2nd defendant (PSC) did not file any defence.

Mr. Gbashima, therefore, urged the court to grant all the prayers of the claimant.

While reacting to the judgment, the counsel commended the court for the well researched judgment and thanked the president for his indulgence.

Similarly, T.A Gazali, the counsel to the defendants, thanked the court for the judgment, saying that the defendants did not lose out entirely since all the prayers of the claimant were not granted.

(NAN)