The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a valid court order.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon made the order while delivering a ruling in a suit filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli who claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force.
Justice Olajuwon held that the IGP should be committed to prison and detained in custody until he obeys an order made since October 21, 2011.
The judge 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 also ordered the payment of N10 million 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.
In a similar manner, Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court Abuja had in early November convicted the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa for contempt and ordered that he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The judge held that Bawa was in contempt of the order of the court made on November , 2018, directing the commission to return to an applicant, his Range Rover and the sum of N40 million.
However, Justice Oji in a subsequent ruling set aside the conviction of Bawa after hearing an application brought by the EFCC chairman.
