From Olalekan Awojodu, Abuja
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday sentenced the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to three-months imprisonment for disobeying a valid court order.
Justice Olajuwon held in his ruling that the IGP should be committed to prison and detained in custody for a period of three months, or until he obeys an order made since October 21, 2011.
The action followed a suit that was filed by a police officer, Mr. Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.
The Judge noted that though the Police Service Commission, PSC, recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the Police, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the IGP, refused to comply with the order.
“If at the end of the three months, the contemnor remains recalcitrant and still refuses to purge his contempt, he shall be committed for another period and until he purges his contempt”, the court held.
The court had also ordered the payment of 10 Million to the Applicant, being special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional denial of his rights and privileges as a Senior Officer of the Nigeria Police Force from 1993 till date.
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