The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, slammed a three-month sentence on the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, for disobeying a valid court order.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, who delivered the judgment, issued the order following a suit filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli.
Okoli claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force on December 5, 1992.
The retired officer had since 1994 obtained two court judgments ordering his reinstatement and promotion to a suitable rank.
“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.
Justice Olajuwon noted that though the Police Service Commission (PSC) recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the Force, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the IGP refused to comply with the order.
