Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.
Delivering ruling, Justice Olajuwon issued the order following a suit filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli who claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force.
The court, held that the IGP should be committed to prison for a period of three months, or until he obeys an order it made since October 21, 2011.
Justice Olajuwon noted that though the Police Service Commission (PSC) recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the police 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 N10million to Okoli as 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.
Earlier in November, Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court Abuja 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 21, 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.