Following contempt of Court, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, sentenced the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a valid court order.
IGP Baba’s committal to prison by the Court followed a suit filed by a police officer, Mr. Patrick Okoli over his ‘unlawfully and compulsorily’ retirement from the Nigerian Police Force.
Justice Olajuwon noted that even though the Police Service Commission (PSC), recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the Police, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the Inspector General of Police refused to comply with the order.
Presiding judge of the Court, Justice M.O. Olajuwon, while ruling on the matter, directed that IGP Baba should be committed to prison and detained in custody for a period of three months, or until he obeys an order it made on October 21, 2011.
Justice Olajuwon further ruled that 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 until he purges his contempt.
The Court 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.
