The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria Capital Territory has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba and the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Inuwa to appear before the court on May 2, 2023, to show cause why they shouldn't be committed to prison over flagrant disobedience to a lawful court order.
The presiding judge, Justice O. O. Oyewumi gave the order in a ruling on committal proceeding against the duo in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/21M/2023 between CSP Egong Egwu Egong, CSP Omeh Felix Okechukwu, CSP Paul Obot Umoh and SP Galadima Bello Claimants/Applicants (For themselves and as representing all members of Course 33, 34 & 35 (Force Entrants) of the Police Academy AND Police Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police and Force Secretary, Nigeria Police as Defendants/ Respondents.
Lamenting the attitude of Nigerian
government officials which include the Nigeria Police Force under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to persistently flout or disobey Orders of the Court, Justice Oyewumi said they do it as if they are living outside of this nation or above the provisions of the 1999 Constitution which operate as a guide to curb actions and inactions of the state and its operators.
The court stated in its ruling obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday: "It is evidently clear that the respondents, the Inspector
General of Police and the Force Secretary have flouted the order of this Court made on 27/2/2023 urging them to appear before the Court to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of this Court for their flagrant disobedience to the decision of this Court even when their legal department had issued legal advice urging the Inspector General of Police to comply with the decision of the Court.
"It has become the attitude of Government officials which include the Nigeria Police Force to persistently flout or disobey Orders of Court as if they are living outside of this Nation or above the provision of the 1999 Constitution which operates as a guide to curb actions and inactions of the State and its operators.
"The same constitution has given Courts in this clime including this Court the inherent power to enforce the constitutional provisions ditto rule of law against authorities and people in the State called Nigeria."
He warned that a situation where the courts are denegraded by disobedience to their orders would engender danger to the rule of law, praying that "God forbid that this clime will become like the proverbial Banana Republic".
"God forbid, I say that again," he added.
It noted that the excuse put forth by the respondents' counsel "is verbose and same is lacking in merit," adding, "It is in view of that, that I discountenance the excuse, except the reason put forth respecting the Inspector General of Police. I emphatically disregard the excuse respecting the Force Secretary Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Hafiz Inuwa.
"It is in view of this that before I proceed to hold them for contempt of this Court, I give both the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba and the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Hafiz Inuwa the second chance of appearing before this Court to show cause why this Court is not to proceed to find them guilty of being in contempt of this Court."
The judge adjourned the case to May 2, 2023, for continuation of proceedings, saying it was done by "consent of counsel".