The Nigeria Police Force has reacted after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.
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Recall that on Tuesday, Justice Mobalaji Olajuwon passed the judgment following a suit filed by Patrick Okoli, who was a former police officer.
Okoli had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja with claims that he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Force.
In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Olajuwon held that though the Police Service Commission (PSC) recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the Force, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the IGP refused to comply with the order.
The judge, therefore, sentenced the IGP to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.
Reacting to the judgement in a statement on Tuesday night, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said IGP Baba would never disobey any court order or go against the rule of law.
He stated that the office of the Inspector-General of Police did not disregard any court order as it was not aware of the order reinstating Okoli.
Adejobi said with respect to media reports that the IGP disobeyed a court order for the reinstatement of a dismissed officer of the Force, he was not aware as the case was decided in 2011 even before he became the Police boss.
He disclosed that the IGP has however ordered an investigation of the matter in a bid to ascertain the position of the court and proffer informed legal advice for his prompt and necessary action.
Part of 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.
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“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 proffer informed legal advice for the IGP’s prompt and necessary action.
“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates his commitment to upholding the rule of law and synergizing with the judiciary to ensure quick dispensation of justice for an improved criminal justice system.”
