The National Industrial Court in Abuja has temporarily restrained the Nigeria Police authorities from implementing the reinstatement of 455 senior police officers who were compulsorily retired in January 2025.

Justice Buhari Sani issued the interim injunction on September 22, 2026, directing the affected authorities to suspend any action giving effect to the decision to reinstate the officers pending the hearing and determination of an application for an interlocutory injunction.

The court also ordered the parties to maintain the status quo that existed immediately before the decision to reinstate the officers.

The case, marked NICN/KN/51/2026, followed an application filed by Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiatives. The organisation challenged the return of graduates of Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19 and 20 of the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, to the Force.

The court directed the applicant to serve the ruling, the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction and the originating summons within three days.

The matter has been adjourned until September 30, 2026, for hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction.

The latest development comes months after the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal affirmed a judgment ordering the reinstatement of the 455 officers.

The National Industrial Court had, in its September 30, 2025 judgment delivered by Justice R.B. Haastrup, nullified the retirement of the officers and ordered their immediate reinstatement, together with the payment of their salaries and allowances.

The Police Service Commission and police authorities subsequently appealed the judgment. However, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed the commission’s appeal and upheld the lower court’s decision.

The controversy dates back to January 31, 2025, when 455 senior police officers were compulsorily retired. Among those affected were senior officers including AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe and DCP Simon Lough.

The affected officers challenged their retirement before the National Industrial Court, leading to the judgment ordering their reinstatement.

The latest interim order has, however, placed a temporary hold on the implementation of that judgment, pending the determination of the fresh application before the National Industrial Court.