Dismissed Officer Asks Nigeria Police to Comply with Judgement Reinstating Him

Sylvester Idowu in Warri 

An unlawfully dismissed police officer, Sergeant Aiguobasmwin Esosa yesterday urged the Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission to comply with a judgement of the National Industrial Court ordering his reinstatement into the force from 2021.

Esosa, with number F/N 368144, also pledged with the federal government to wade into his case, alleging that he was wrongfully dismissed forcing him to resort to court to get justice.

According to a certified copy of the judgement with suit No: NICN/Ben/01/2018, Justice A. A. Adewenimo had on November 17, 2021 delivered a judgement in favour of the Esosa over unlawful dismissal from the force.

Narrating his ordeal since he was wrongfully dismissed, Esosa said the National Industrial Court ordered the Police Service Commission to reinstate him two years ago, but refused to obey the court order till date.

He added that his unlawful dismissal “has brought him untold hardship coupled with his father’s death upon hearing of dismissal news.”

He explained that the problem leading to his unlawful dismissal started when he was transferred from the National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) at Deco Road, Warri in Delta State as police officer on duty to Igbokoda, Ondo State NIWA Office.

He added that at NIWA Office, he was placed under the command of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Olaoye Waheed Kolawole, with AP 105385, who posted him to Ajah in Lagos on special duty in one Chinese firm known as SINOTRUST International Investment Limited.

According to Esosa, he arrived at the company and was documented and started work. The Manager, Mr. Leo told him that he was entitled to N3000.00 daily as allowance and would be paid through ASP Olaoye Waheed Kolawole’s account. 

He said that being on special duty, he was entitled to N155, 000.00, but he was paid only N20,000.00 for June and July.

He said he protested to ASP Kolawole who, instead of listening, arrested and detained him at Igbokoda Police Station between September 7, 2017 and till November 24, 2017.

Esosa revealed that ASP Kolawole later handed him over to a new Deputy Superintendent of Police, Victor Olowolagba when a call came from Zama Shettima, who is now an Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Esosa lamented that he was detained in a police cell for four days without food and water while he was beaten up mercilessly.

He added that he was admitted in the hospital at Igbokoda Central Hospital before he was finally charged to Orderly Room Trial.

Before I knew it, according to the dismissed police officer, I was dismissed without a dismissal letter. 

With the turn of events, Esosa explained that he had no other option than to go to the National Industrial Court to seek redress in Akure in January 2018, which later transferred the suit to Benin, Edo State.  

While the matter was in the court, Esosa revealed that counsel to the Nigeria Police came only twice until the court gave judgment on November 17, 2021 that his dismissal was null, void and of no effect.

He added that the National Industrial Court directed the Nigeria Police “to reinstate. Till date, however, the police authority has refused to reinstate me in line with the judgement of the court.”

He therefore called on relevant authorities including the federal government to ensure that the police authority comply with the decision of the court.