By Henry Ojelu
Following last week’s edition of Encounter which exposed the unjust suspension of 52-year-old Police Inspector, Hilary Okorie for 25 years for arresting a high profile robbery suspect and the refusal by Police authorities to reinstate him as ordered by the court, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, African Bar Association, AfBA, Civil Society Organisations and senior lawyers have blasted the Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission, PSC, for the act of injustice and disregard for a court judgment.
Encounter had earlier exclusively reported how Inspector Okorie and three members of his team in 1997 were arrested and detained for 13 months by Police authorities after they had arrested a robbery suspect who their superior officer later instructed them to release.He was arraigned for robbery along with his team members but the charge was abandoned by the Police.
Following his continued detention, Okorie sued the Police for infringement on his fundamental human rights.
After his release as ordered by the court, the Police refused to allow him resume his official duty, claiming that he has been suspended. Okorie returned to court through a suit at the Federal High Court and after 10 years, the court delivered judgment asking the Police to reinstate him and unfreeze his two bank accounts which were frozen.
