News

Court Nullifies 15-Year Compulsory Service Rule for Soldiers

Published

7 months ago

September 3, 2025

Eric

The National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja has nullified the provision of the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service for the Officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces (HTACOS), which made it mandatory for soldiers to serve for a minimum of 15 years before they could be allowed to resign.

The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, declared the provision as both oppressive and a gross violation of fundamental rights that are protected by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The verdict followed a suit marked: NICN/ABJ/25/2025, which a dissatisfied Air Force personnel, Flight Lieutenant J. A. Akerele, lodged before the court.

The Claimant, who told the court that he was commissioned in 2013 as a Pilot Officer during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, specifically challenged what he described as his “systematic persecution and victimisation,” by the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, after he applied to disengage from service.

He told the court that the then Chief of Air Staff not only rejected his resignation letter but equally declared him AWOL with a signal issued for his arrest.

Narrating his ordeal, the Claimant, in an affidavit he filed in support of the suit that was entered on his behalf by a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, averred:

“Before the 14th day of September 2013, I was selected based on merit as a final year student in the Nigerian Defence Academy in July 2013 to complete my Flight training in the United States of America.

“During the course of my studies, allowances were no longer released for about 5) five months and I was abruptly recalled from the course in July 2014, and this led to my loss of seniority in rank, and I was not assigned to any unit for over a year.

“I switched five different career paths as a young officer in the Nigerian Air Force, and during this course, I was never promoted as compared to my course mates, as I spent 6 (six) years on the rank of a Flying Officer instead of the standard 4 (four) years.

“I was posted to the National Air Defence Corps, and my specialty was changed to Air Traffic Control and subsequently to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV); I began my UAV training in August 2016, but it was terminated as the foreign contractors were not paid according to terms.

“After several months of waiting, my specialty was again changed to the Intelligence Arm of the Air Force.

“I was nominated for the Intelligence Course after serving in Base Services Group (BSG) Lagos from November 2019 to November 2020, but it was later canceled and I was sent back to the UAV specialty.”

He told the court that the bitter experiences he was subjected to caused him “severe emotional distress, feelings of victimization, and a lack of sense of direction.”

The Claimant insisted that the ordeal adversely affected his mental well-being, saying he was traumatized.

“It was for these reasons and the enduring depression and trauma that I voluntarily resigned and disengaged from the Nigerian Air Force,” he added.

According to the Claimant, after his letter for voluntary resignation was received, the authorities of the NAF subjected him to a series of interviews and counselling.

He stated that his Commander and the disposal officers who conducted the interviews and counselling sessions supported his decision and recommended that he should be allowed to disengage from service.

However, he told the court that despite the recommendations, the then Chief of Air Staff rejected his letter of disengagement, insisting that he must serve at least 15 years before he could be eligible to voluntarily resign.

The Claimant told the court that the Air Force boss, basing his decision on provisions of the HTACOS, ordered his immediate arrest.

He argued that as a public servant, he had the constitutional right to voluntarily resign from service.

Challenging the action, the Claimant contended that the said HTACOS was not only a breach of section 306 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, but equally negated various subsisting court judgements.

Delivering his judgement in the matter on Tuesday, Justice Subilim faulted the decision of Air Force authorities, saying it was akin to forcing soldiers into “modern day slavery under the guise of national service.”

Declaring that members of the Armed Forces have the statutory right to retire or resign voluntarily, the court struck down the 15-year compulsory service requirement provided by the HTACOS.

It dismissed the NAF’s argument that the Claimant’s letter had “voluntary retirement” as its caption instead of “resignation.”

The court held that what was of utmost importance was the substance of the letter and not its form, adding that the word “resignation” as used in Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, must be given a liberal and wider interpretation and not a restrictive interpretation, in line with decisions of the Supreme Court on principles governing the interpretation of the Constitution.

Consequently, the court granted the Claimant’s reliefs and declared his resignation from the NAF as valid and effective from the date his letter was received.

The court equally issued an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Chief of Air Staff and the NAF, who were the 1st and 2nd defendants in the matter, from arresting or detaining the Claimant or compelling him to continue in military service.

News

IGP Disu Redeploys Top Police Officers in Major Shake-up

Published

2 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Eric

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, on Tuesday, ordered the posting of senior officers to various strategic positions across the country.

Disu said the development is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance leadership capacity, and improve service delivery nationwide.

He said the postings are in line with the Force’s commitment to an effective command structure and the strategic deployment of personnel across Commands, Formations, and Departments.

Disu deployed AIG Ado Emmanuel to Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Joseph Eribo to the Department of Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Miller Dantawaye to the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Henry Ifeanyi Uche to the Department of Training and Development, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Olanrewaju Peter Ogunlowo to the Police Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, Abuja; while AIG Dahiru Mohammed, has been posted to Zone 15, Maiduguri.

Similarly, AIG Dankombo F. Morris has been deployed to Zone 4, Makurdi; AIG Bello Shehu to Zone 14, Katsina; AIG Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba to the Department of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Ahmed Musa to Community Policing, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh to Zone 2, Lagos; AIG Simeon U. Akpanudom to FCID Annex, Lagos; and AIG Haruna Olufemi to the Special Protection Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In the same vein, CP Haruna Alaba Yahaya has been posted to Jigawa State Command; CP Betty Enekpen Otimenyin to Welfare, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola to Oyo State Command; CP Yemi John Oyeniyi to CP Delta State Command; CP Olubode Ojajuni to Ogun State Command; CP Michael Adegoroye Falade to Ekiti State Command; CP Yakubu Useni Dankaro to Adamawa State Command; CP Aina Adesola to Training Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Muhammed Sanusi Ahmed to the Federal Capital Territory Command; CP Olatunji Olaiwola Fatai to Lagos State Command; CP Morkwap S. Dongshal to Taraba State Command; CP Ahmed Mohammed Bello to Zamfara State Command; CP Umar Ali Fagge to Katsina State Command; and CP Hayatu Shaffa Hassan to Sokoto State Command.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, CP Akan Ezima has been posted as Director, NPF-NCCC, Abuja; CP Abbas Sule to the Special Protection Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue to INTERPOL, Abuja; CP Mnwadiogbu Cletus as Deputy Commandant, POLAC; CP Danjuma I. Yahaya to General Investigation, FCID Annex, Kaduna; CP Sheik M. Danko to FCID Annex, Lagos; and CP Moses Ashu Otta to SWAT, Abuja.

Further postings include CP Abdulrahim A. Shuaibu to Eastern Ports Authority; CP Sarah Ehindero to Administration, FCID, Abuja; CP Edwin Ogbegbghagha to Provost, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Preye R. Egbe to INEC, Abuja; CP Adebisi Bola Lateef to Master Printing, Lagos; CP Bolou O. Etete to Community Policing, Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja; and CP Ojugbele E. Adebola to General Investigation, FCID Alagbon, Lagos.

Placid said: “Additionally, CP Fidelis N. Ogarabe has been posted to INTERPOL Annex, Lagos; CP Theodore C. Obasi as Deputy Commandant, Police College, Ikeja; CP Eloho E. Okpoziakpo to Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos; CP Kayode Uthman Magaji to K9, Dei-Dei, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Markus Ishaku Basiran to Courses, POLAC; CP Mohammed Babakura to Administration, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Silas Bamidele Aremu to Safer Highway, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Magaji Ismaila to Community Safety and Crime Prevention, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; and CP Rebecca Uchenna Okereke as Director of Music, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”

News

FG Helpless over Power Outages, Minister Adelabu Admits, Apologises to Nigerians

Published

2 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Eric

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has sensationally declared that the current power outages across the country are due to factors beyond the government’s control.

Adelabu made this known on Tuesday during a press conference in Abuja, where he also apologised to Nigerians over the persistent electricity disruptions recorded in the past month.

He acknowledged that the outages have worsened hardship for households, businesses, schools, and industries, especially amid increased heat during the dry season.

The apology comes as public frustration grows over erratic power supply across the country, with rising temperatures driving higher electricity demand.

Adelabu said: “I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, coming from me as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced, especially during this dry season, where there is so much heat everywhere.

“Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but it is due to some factors that are actually beyond our control.”

He assured Nigerians that improvements in electricity supply are expected within weeks.

“I can tell you, with the committee that we have set up, and commitments from gas suppliers, and the timeline for repair of the gas pipelines, two weeks from now, we should start seeing improvements in supply. Two weeks,” Adelabu said.

The minister explained that the government has visibility on the timeline for key repairs, particularly those involving facilities operated by Seplat Energy, which are expected to restore gas supply to power plants.

He added that a special committee has been constituted to monitor compliance with domestic gas supply obligations by producers, a major issue affecting electricity generation.

“We already have a committee that is working on this to track compliance with the domestic supply obligations of these gas companies to our power plants,” he said, adding that improved payment flows would further incentivise supply.

Adelabu said efforts are ongoing to stabilise the power sector despite structural challenges.

“We are working on it 24/7 to make sure that we go back to the trajectory of 2025, when Nigerians commended us for a good job well done,” he said.

He also reiterated the Federal government’s target to increase electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current situation as a temporary setback.

News

Obi Condemns Arrest of Sheikh Ahmad Shortly after Meeting in Kaduna

Published

20 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Eric

Former Anambra State Governor and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the reported arrest of a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, describing it as a troubling sign for Nigeria’s democracy.

In a post via his verified X handle on Tuesday, Obi said he had been informed that the cleric was arrested shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday.

“I have just been made aware early this morning that revered religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, has been arrested by authorities shortly after hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday,” Obi said.

The former governor warned that the development reflects a broader pattern of intolerance and repression in the country.

“This development underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, where freedom of speech and movement is increasingly threatened, and where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecution. This cannot be allowed to continue,” he stated.

Obi stressed the importance of protecting civil liberties, noting that democratic governance depends on the protection of fundamental rights.

“This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society. Suppression and intimidation of dissent can never stand in a democratic society, and this Nigerian government must understand this fact,” he added.

He further called on authorities to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles in their dealings with citizens.

“I respectfully call on all those bent on undermining our already fragile democracy to please stop and apply the rule of law and tenets of democracy in dealing with citizens,” Obi said.