News

Contempt: Why IGP Defied Court Ruling – Police

Published

2 years ago

Nov 30, 2022.

Philip Ibitoye

The police have explained why the IGP did not obey a court ruling.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Nigeria Police Force has denied disregarding a court ruling.

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Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, sentenced the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to three months in prison for disobeying a valid court order.

The IGP was sentenced over his alleged refusal to obey a sister court judgement reinstating a police officer, Patrick Okoli.

However, in a statement issued by police spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Tuesday evening, the police said the IGP did not have any knowledge of the court order reinstating the concerned police officer.

The statement noted that the most recent judgement on the matter was given in 2011, meaning that it was not under the purview of the current administration.

Nevertheless, Baba has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Legal Unit to ascertain the position of the court and proffer informed legal advice for his action, according to Adejobi.

“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state emphatically that the office of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+),NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, did not disregard Court Order or rule of law as the office is not aware of any Court Order, during the current IGP’s tenure, with respect to a matter making the round in the media that the IGP disobeyed a Court Order for the reinstatement of a dismissed officer of the Force,” the statement reads.

“It is instructive to note that the case in point concerns an officer who was dismissed as far back as 1992, a few years after the current IGP joined the Nigeria Police Force, based on available facts gleaned from the reports.

“The most recent judgement on the matter was given in 2011 which should ordinarily not fall under the direct purview of the current administration of the Force. Thus, the news is strange and astonishing.

“The IGP has however directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Legal Unit to investigate the allegation in a bid to ascertain the position of the court and profer informed legal advice for the IGP’s prompt and necessary action.