Nigeria court halts reinstatement of 455 retired police officers

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction halting the reinstatement of 455 retired senior police officers into the Nigeria Police Force. The ruling, delivered by Justice Buhari Sani on September 22, 2026, restrains authorities from enforcing previous decisions that approved the return of graduates from Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19, and 20.

The legal dispute stems from a January 2025 decision by the Police Service Commission to compulsorily retire these officers. While a previous court ruling had nullified those retirements and ordered reinstatement, this new injunction follows a suit filed by the Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiatives. The group seeks to freeze the reinstatement process pending a full hearing.

The court has ordered all parties to maintain the status quo that existed prior to the reinstatement decision. The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 30, 2026.