The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja Judicial Division, has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other relevant authorities from taking disciplinary action against one of its senior officers, Dr. Badiru Adeyemi Oluwafemi, pending the determination of a substantive suit before the court.
Justice E.D. Subilim gave the order on Thursday, July 2, 2026, while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the claimant in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/235/2026.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee of the NIS, and the Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Discipline and Awards.
In the certified true copy of the court order, the court restrained the defendants, their agents and representatives from writing or accepting the recommendations of the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee arising from disciplinary proceedings involving the claimant conducted between June 23 and June 25, 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The court also barred the defendants from preventing Dr. Oluwafemi from participating in the 2026 promotion examination or taking any further disciplinary measures against him over issues connected to the pending litigation.
Justice Subilim further restrained the authorities from arresting, harassing, intimidating, querying, summoning, terminating the appointment of, or dismissing the claimant over the subject matter of the suit until the court reaches a final decision.
The judge held that, after considering the affidavit, written address and other materials placed before the court, the claimant had established a prima facie case deserving of judicial protection.
“I am of the considered view that the Applicant has raised a prima facie issue deserving of consideration by this court and for the interim reliefs sought. Accordingly, in the interest of justice, this motion is hereby granted as prayed,” the court ruled.
The court directed that the defendants be served with copies of the interim order and the Motion on Notice within seven clear days.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to July 10, 2026, for hearing of the Motion on Notice.
The interim order effectively preserves the status quo pending the determination of the substantive issues before the National Industrial Court.
