Industrial Court granted ex-parte order restraining IGP, Police Service Commission, others in AIG Abdulyari Lafia case
By Grace Ben Kato
The National Industrial Court Judicial Division, Abuja, has granted an ex-parte order brought before it by Usman Sule, SAN, on behalf of AIG Abdulyari Shuaya‘u Lafia Claimant/ Applicant restraining the Nigeria Police Force, Police Service Commission, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, from taking further actions on the matter before it.
Presiding Judge, Justice O. Y. Anuwe also granted the restraining order to include “servants, agents, privies, cohorts by themselves or through any person from taking any further steps, in connection with or relation to matters arising from or in any way connected to the subject of the substantive application.”
This include reducing the Applicant’s rank, dismissing the Applicant from the Force or meting any other punishment on the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The order granted on the 24th of February, 2025 was sequenced to motion on notice of order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Respondents from further actions pending the determination of the substantive suit.
“I have heard learned Senior Counsel on an application brought ex-parte wherein he seeks amongst other prayers, order of court for an interim injunction restraining the respondents from taking any further steps in connection with or relation to all matters arising from the substantive application, including reducing the applicant’s rank, dismissing the applicant from the Force or meting any other punishment on the applicant, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice which was filed along with this motion exparte.
“I have seen the grounds listed as No. 1 to 23, the affidavit in support comprising 48 paragraphs, and Exhibits numbered as A to € attached. I have also seen the affidavit of urgency comprising 7 paragraphs deposed to by the applicant.
“Having considered the totality of the application, it is hereby ordered as follows: The Applicant’s Motion Exparte dated 11″ February 2025 and filed 12″ February 2025 is hereby granted in terms of the motion Paper. To wit, the respondents are restrained from taking further Steps in connection with the substantive application pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice .