Court Sentences IGP To Three Months In Prison

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba on Tuesday was sentenced to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

The ruling was passed at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The presiding judge, Mobalaji Olajuwon passed the judgement on Tuesday following a suit filed by Patrick Okoli.

The judge warned that the IGP would be committed for another period if he fails to purge his contempt.

Okoli who is a former police officer had claimed that he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian police force.

Justice Olajuwon said, “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.”

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.

The court had also ordered the payment of N10m 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.