The commission and the police leadership both filed separate challenges with the Court of Appeal because they were unhappy with the decision.

But a three-judge panel of the appellate court, consisting of Justices Okorowo, Banjoko, and Abang, rejected the commission's appeal in its ruling on Wednesday, upholding the National Industrial Court's ruling in its entirety.

The decision was made just weeks after the same court dismissed a separate appeal that the Force Secretary and the Inspector-General of Police had submitted regarding the same issue on March 16, 2026, calling it frivolous.

The conflict started when the Police Service Commission and Egbetokun decided to retire 455 senior officers on January 31, 2025.

Critics of the development claimed that the retirements were made without a valid reason, which caused controversy inside the Nigeria Police Force.

AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe, and DCP Simon Lough were among the senior officers impacted.

The resentful officers then filed action No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025 with the National Industrial Court, claiming that their retirement was illegal.

The appellate court has now upheld the trial court's decision to grant all of the officers' requested remedies and order their reinstatement.

The debate concerning the date of the first appointment of Cadet ASP Courses 18, 19, and 20 entrants into the Nigeria Police Force has been effectively settled, according to legal commentators.

Reactions to the appellate court's ruling have persisted, with some parties voicing hope that the Police Service Commission and Olatunji Disu, the current Inspector-General of Police, will abide by the ruling.

Noting that the Court of Appeal continues to be the last appellate court in cases coming from the National Industrial Court, they asked the police authorities to promptly carry out the court's orders.

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