Abuja.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Inspector General of Police IGP, Mohammed Adamu to appear before it on February 4 and show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt of the order of court.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had earlier issued the summon against the IGP following the alleged refusal to reinstate a forcefully retired Deputy Commissioner of police DCP Mr Patrick Okoli,
The court had voided and set aside the forceful retirement of Okoli from the force on the ground that due process of law was not followed in the purported retirement.
While ordering the reinstatement of the DCP Okoli, the court imposed a fine of N10 million as punitive cost against the police authorities.
Although Police contested the high court judgment at the Court of Appeal, it lost as the appellate court affirmed the decision of the lower court.
In compliance with the Court of Appeal decision, DCP Okoli was reinstated via a letter and in another letter was again retired compulsorily by police authorities.
In a form 48 filed against the IGP, the Police authorities were accused of toying with order of court deliberately and leave of court to file contempt charges against the police chief was sought.
After listening to arguments of both parties; Mr Arinze Solomon Eggo, counsel to the applicant, the trial Judge issued an order directing the IGP to appear before her court on Thursday February 4.
An enrol order signed by the Judge read in part “An order of this court is hereby made mandating the Inspector General of Police to appear before this court on the 4th day of February 2021 at 9am to show cause why a contempt proceeding should not be taken against the Inspector General of Police for refusal to obey the judgment of the Court in this matter which judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
“This summons shall be served forthwith.
Justice Ojukwu has since fixed February 4 for the IGP appearance.
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