by Chiburoma Glory Nwabueze
A federal high court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday has sentenced the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to three months in prison on allegation of contempt of the court.
The presiding judge, Hon. Justice M. O. Olajuwon gave the order that the IGP should be committed to prison and held in custody for three months, or until he obeys an order issued by the court since October 21, 2011.
“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.
Usman Baba committal followed a suit that was instituted by a police officer, Mr. Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.
The court also ordered the payment of 10 million naira to Mr Patrick Okoli, being special and general damages for the unlawful and unconstitutional denial of his rights and privileges as a Senior Officer of the Nigeria Police Force from 1993 till date.
There is a subsisting court order and recommendation of the Police Service Commission asking the IGP to reinstate the applicant which the IGP has allegedly refused to comply with.
