IG convicted of contempt of court for violating court order

A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba to three months in prison for failing to comply with a judgment that reinstated Patrick Okoli, who had been compulsorily retired as a police officer.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon ruled yesterday that if the IGP fails to comply with the judgment and purge himself of the act of contempt, he will face another three months in prison.

The IGP, who was aware of the 2011 judgment, did not deny knowledge of the judgment’s orders, according to Justice Olajuwon.

As stated in the judgment, the judge also found that the IGP openly refused to carry out the court’s orders.

“This court has bent over backwards numerous times for the respondent,” he added (the IGP).

“This court even directed the Assistant Chief Registrar (Litigation) to notify the respondent of the pending status of this matter, which he did, and proof of receipt in the respondent’s office is before this court.”

“It’s unfortunate that the law’s chief enforcer is someone who has purposefully refused to obey the same law.”

“It is critical to state that a nation’s good order, peace, and stability are dependent on obedience to court orders.”

“It is a duty that every citizen who believes in the peace and stability of the Nigerian state owes the nation,” she said. “It is a duty that the court has a duty to commit the individual who has failed to carry out the court’s order for contempt in order to prevent the authority and administration of law from being brought to disrespect and to protect the dignity of the court.”

Court orders should not be obeyed based on the respondent’s whims and caprices, according to Justice Olajuwon, because the rule of law is only supreme when all parties, regardless of status, obey the court order.

The decision dealt with a committal proceeding initiated by Okoli in order to enforce the court’s October 2011 judgment.

Okoli had sued the Police Council (now the Police Service Commission, PSC) in 1992 to overturn his forced retirement as a Chief Superintendent of Police in Bauchi State Command (CSP).

Okoli disputed the Police Council’s claim that it acted in accordance with Decree 17 of 1984.

Baba, on the other hand, has denied knowing about the court order for which he was found in contempt.

“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state emphatically that the office of IGP Usman Alkali Baba did not disregard a court order or rule of law as the office is not aware of any court order, during the current IGP’s tenure, with respect to a matter making the rounds in the media that the IGP

“It is instructive to note that the case in point involves an officer who was dismissed as early as 1992, a few years after the current IGP joined the Nigeria Police Force, according to available facts gleaned from reports,” the report says. “The most recent decision on the matter was rendered in 2011, and it should not normally fall under the direct jurisdiction of the current administration of the Force.”

“However, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Legal Unit to investigate the allegation and provide informed legal advice for the IGP’s prompt and necessary action.”

“The IGP reiterates his commitment to upholding the rule of law and working with the judiciary to ensure the prompt administration of justice in order to improve the criminal justice system.”