Five Wrongfully dismissed Police Officers send SOS to Senator Bassey Albert

By Osondu Ahirika

Five wrongfully dismissed Police Officers have sent a petition to the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan to intervene on their behalf and ensure they obtain justice from the Nigeria Police.

The five officers are Sunday Okon, Anthony Ebong, Joseph Edem, Victor Ebe and Uduak Sampson with Force Nos. 403284, 400058, 412050, 410355 and 029629 respectively who were recruited into the Nigeria Police as specialists in 2003 after undergoing police training and found
worthy both in character, physical fitness and education and were posted to Akwa lbom State Command where they diligently discharged their duties without issue.

The five officers told newsmen they were however, by a police wireiess message dated 1 January 2007 disengaged from the service on the ground that they are illiterates, which they refuted by writing various letters to the Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman Police Service Commission and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police,zone 6, Calabar praying to be reinstated to no avail.

In a copy of the petition to Senator Albert which was seen by newsmen, the officers resorted to the industrial Court when nothing was done in response to their appeal to be reinstated, instituting a case against the Force and the Police Service Commission with Suit No. NICN/UY/08/2018, praying the
Court for orders of reinstatement and payment of arrears of their salaries
and allowances.
In her verdict delivered on 21 November, 2019, the Honourable Court declared the purported disengagement of the five
Officers from the Force null and void and ordered that they be reinstated
into the ranks they would have been but for their disengagement and that all arrears of their salaries and allowances be paid to them.
Spokesman of the five victimized officers, Sunday Okon told newsmen that up until date, nothing has been done to effect the judgment by the Police force despite several letters and appeals whereas the Force did not appeal against the ruling.
The five officers therefore prayed Senator Albert as their representative in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to use his good offices and intervene in their case so they can have justice.

Mr Okon said they have suffered untold hardship for 14 years as they do not know who is sitting on their rights or taking their salaries. He expressed optimism that the intervention of Senator Albert in collaboration with other lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State will save them and their dependants from the harrowing experience and untold suffering their wrongful dismissal has caused them.

The copy of the Letter which was leaked to the Press reads:

Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA)
Chairman Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum Resources,
Suite 304, Senate Building
National Assembly Complex,
Abuja

Distinguished Senator,

APPEAL FOR YOUR GRACIOUS ASSISTANCE IN THE REINSTATEMENT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS SUNDAY OKO
ANTHONY EBONG, JOSEPH EDEM, VICTOR EBE AND UDUA SAMPSON INTO THE NIGERIA POLICE IN LINE WITH JUDGMEN
IN SUIT NO. NICN/UY/08/2018: SUNDAY OKON UDOSEN & ORSNIGERIA POLICE FORCE & ANOR

We are solicitors to Sunday Okon, Anthony Ebong, Joseph Edem, Victor Ebe and Uduak Sampson with Force Nos. 403284, 400058, 412050, 410355 and 029629 respectively hereinafter referred to as "oL
clients" and it is pursuant to their definite instructions to us that we write
to you in respect of the above subject matter.

It is our clients' instruction to us that they were recruited into the Nigeria
Police as specialists in 2003 after undergoing police training and found
worthy both in character, physical fitness and education to be recruited into the force. Following their recruitment, our clients were posted to Akwa lbom State Command where they diligently discharged their duties without issue.

They were, however, by a police wireiess message dated 1 January 2007 disengaged from the service on the ground that they we illiterates. Being no illiterates at all, and dissatisfied with the manner of
their disengagement from service, our clients wrote various letters to the
Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman Police Service Commission and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police,zone 6, Calabar praying to be reinstated to no avail.
when nothing was done in response to our clients' appeal to be reinstated, they instituted Suit No. NICN/UY/08/2018 against the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission in the uyo Judiial DivisIon of the National Industrial Court. In the said suit, they prayed the
cOurt for orders of reinstatement and payment of arrears of their salaries
and allowances.
On 21 November, 2019, the Honourable Court in its considered judgment declared the purported disengagement or our
Clients from the Force null and void and ordered that they be reinstated
into the ranks they would have been but for their disengagement and that all arrears of their salaries and allowances be paid to them. Please find attached herewith and marked "ATTACHMENT 1 the Judgment
Order of the Honourable Court.

Following the judgment, our clients through their solicitors wrote to both the Inspector-General of Police and the Judicial Service Commission appealing that they be reinstated in the police force and arrears of their salaries and allowances paid in accordance with the judgment of the
National Industrial Court. Despite that the said judgment was not appealed, the defendants in the case failed, refused and neglected to obey and comply with same till date. Our clients' letters to the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission are attached herewith and marked "ATTACHMENT 2" and "ATTACHMENT 3 respectively.

Our clients have, due to their unlawful disengagement from service, and the refusal of the Police Service Commission to comply the judgment aforesaid gone and continue to go through untold hardship. In the circumstance Distinguished Senator, our clients who are your constituents and avid supporters humbly and respectfully appeal to you
sir to please use your good offices to assist them in prevailing on the
Police Service Commission to comply with the court judgment in the interest of justice.

Qur clients convey their appreciation for the effective representaton you are giving Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly, and wish you the best of luck in your future political aspirations.

ihank you Distinguished Senator as we look forward to your to your favourable
action on this solemn appeal.

Yours faithfully,

PP: PARAMQUNT ATTORNEYS

VINCENT I. IWUNZE, Ph. D
Thekillerpunchnews.com

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