Court Jails IGP To 3 Months In Prison

Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, was given a three-month prison term by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday for disobeying a 2011 court order.

iexclusivenews reports that following a lawsuit filed by Patrick Okoli, a police officer who was forcibly and illegally retired from the Nigerian Police Force, the IGP was sentenced to prison.

In addition, the court mandated that the applicant pay N10 million in special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional denial of his (Patrick’s) rights and privileges as a Senior Officer of the Nigerian Police Force from 1993 until the present.

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However, iexclusivenews Nigeria reports that the court ruled that the police chief should be committed to prison and held in custody for three months.

Or until his office complies with a ruling issued by the court since October 21, 2011. The ruling was delivered by Justice M. O. Olajuwon.

Olajuwon pointed out that despite the Police Service Commission’s recommendation for Okoli’s reinstatement into the NPF, which was supported by the court, the IGP’s office disobeyed the directive.

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.”

Our correspondent was informed on Tuesday by the Force’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that the police would soon respond to the decision..

“We will respond soon. It’s a matter between 1993 and 2011, when the incumbent IGP, Usman Baba, was not yet in office.” he stated.