By
Gloria Josiah
The Nigeria Police Force has begun the process of reinstating 475 officers whose compulsory retirement was nullified by the National Industrial Court.
The list includes three Assistant Inspectors-General of Police โ Idowu Owohunwa, Benneth Chinedu Igwe, and Uche Ifeanyi Henry โ along with 472 other personnel from the rank of Superintendent of Police up to AIG.
The officers were earlier disengaged under the Police Service Commissionโs contested merger-of-service policy. Their return follows a court ruling in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025 that voided the retirement order.
In a confidential memo dated 31 July 2026, the Force Secretary, AIG Bode Akinbamilowo, acting for the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, directed all zonal AIGs, state Commissioners of Police, and the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos to effect the reintegration.
The memo noted that during its plenary on 25 June 2026, the Police Service Commission approved the correction of the affected officersโ dates of first appointment to align with the court judgment. This reversed the Commissionโs decision of 31 January 2025 which had mandated their compulsory exit.
All commands have been told to promptly notify the recalled officers and ensure they report for a compulsory six-month induction at the Police Staff College, Jos.
The programme will run in two stages. Documentation and arrival of participants is scheduled for 1 to 16 August 2026, while the actual training will hold from 17 August 2026 to 16 February 2027.
Commands were also instructed to โtrace and cautionโ the officers to resume without delay. The IGP further directed the College Commandant to forward the list of documented participants on or before 24 August 2026, warning that latecomers would not be accepted.
According to official records, the officers were recruited and promoted through various police training courses between 1992 and 2012. Their service dates have now been adjusted in line with the courtโs decision, clearing the path for their full return to the Force.
