Justice M. O. Olajuwon ruled that the IGP should be committed to prison and held in custody for three months, or until he obeys an order issued by the court since October 21, 2011.
Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, has been sentenced to three months in jail by a Federal High Court in Abuja for defying a court order.
This was stated by the presiding judge, Mobolaji Olajuwon, in a decision on Tuesday in a suit filed by Patrick Okoli, a former police officer who claims he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force.
Justice M. O. Olajuwon ruled that the IGP should be committed to prison and held in custody for three months, or until he obeys an order issued by the court since October 21, 2011.
“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 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.
Justice Olajuwon 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.
The court had also ordered the payment of N10million 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.