Thirty senior police officers, who were compulsorily retired in 2016, have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari before the National Industrial Court, Abuja, alleging that their retirement contravened some sections of the constitution.

The officers want the court to interpret certain parts of the constitution which is binding on the Police Service Commission, PSC, and its retirement processes.

Also joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, who the complainants claimed `influenced’ their retirement.

Co-defendants in the case include the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, IGP Ibrahim Idris, while he was still in acting capacity, allegedly wrote to the presidency to retire the 30 senior officers, following which the officers, who were from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General, AIG, of police, were subsequently retired.

When the case came up for mention at the National Industrial Court on Monday, counsel to the officers, J. U. Pius, told the court that all defendants in the suit were duly served notices on August 16, 2016, to appear in court today but failed to enter appearance.

However, the court’s records showed that only one defendant, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was served notice.

Trial judge, Rakiya Haastrup, subsequently adjourned the case till February 22 for further mention, while ordering that notices be duly served on all five defendants in the suit before the adjourned date.

The media reported in June 2016 that IGP Idris allegedly wrote the Presidency, requesting the compulsory retirement of the senior officers in order to “in all sense of the word, take charge of the police force.”

Idris was an AIG before he was appointed into office ahead of some Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs, who were ahead of him in rank.