. Usman Alkali-Baba
Usman Alkali-Baba, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been jailed for 3 months over contempt of court by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The police boss was jailed for failure to comply with a valid court order issued on October 21, 2011.
One Patrick Okoli had filed a suit before the court because he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.
Justice M.O Olajuwon, handed the sentence to the IGP today, Tuesday, November 29.
Olajuwon said the police chief should be committed to prison and detained in custody for 3 months or until he adheres to the order that the court gave on October 21, 2011.
The judgment reads in part:
“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 held that the IGP had refused to comply with the order despite the fact that the police service commission (PSC) has recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the security forces.
The court also ordered general and special damages of N10 million to be paid to Okoli for the illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional denial of his rights and privileges as a police boss since 1999 till date.
