Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has been dealt a heavy blow by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for disobeying a court order.
Alkali, on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022 was sentenced to three months in prison for dissobeying a valid court.
The ruling was delivered by Justice M. O. Olajuwon as the court held that the IGP should be committed to prison and detained in custody for a period of three months, or until he obeys an order it made since October 21, 2011.
Justice Olajuwon said; “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 IGP’s committal followed a suit that was filed by a police officer, Mr. Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.”
“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.”
Besides, the court also ordered the payment of N10 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.
