Activists ask court to halt planned demotion of police officers

Human right activists have asked a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, to stop the Police Service Commission from planned demotion of some Police officers who were recently promoted.  

The officers were said to have been promoted for gallantry and superlative performance.  

The activists held that the nation’s extant laws prohibit punishment being applied for an offence, which was not in existence as at the time of its commission, just as no policy or law can be applied in retrospect  

In the suit for enforcement of fundamental right filed by the incorporated Trustees of the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture, the plaintiff named Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission as first and second respondents respectively.  

The plaintiff stated that it is into protection of citizens of Nigeria against abuse of human rights, and its office is situate in FCT Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court under which it filed this suit.  

The activists however asked the court to make an order directing the respondents to cease action on the demotion of any of the officers, as any action so taken will amount to a breach of Section 42 and 36 (8) of the 1999 Constitution (.as amended).

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge for determination.