THE STREET JOURNAL
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the arrest of both the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Hafiz Inuwa, for contempt of court.
The Court order came for the arrest of the IGP and the Force Secretary over their refusal to obey the court, which was regarded as contempt.
The court alleged that IGP and the AIG failed to reinstate some police officers who are graduates of Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the police academy, who were alleged to have been forcefully retired by the force.
Recall that earlier, the aggrieved police officers had approached the court and sought an order to nullify their compulsory retirement from the service of the Nigeria Police Force by the IGP.
The industrial court which was presided over by Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, consequently ordered the IGP, the Police Service Commission, and the Force Secretary of the Police to reinstate the forcefully retired officers.
But the IGP and others mandated by the court’s order had failed to obey the judgment of the court which was delivered on April 19, 2022.
However, the Court in a fresh order on June 8, 2023, issued by the presiding judge, Justice Oyewumi berated the IGP for the latter’s refusal to obey the court despite advice from the relevant stakeholders in the police force.
The court order read, ”It is on record of this court that the court delivered a judgment in this case on 19/4/2022 and ordered that the judgment creditors/applicants should be reinstated forthwith.
”It is on record of this court also that the Police Service Commission, the statutory body that is vested with the power to appoint, promote and discipline the judgment creditors/applicants, had ordered the Inspector General of Police to comply with the judgment of this court.
“It is equally noteworthy that the CP, Legal, the Head of Department of the Nigerian Police Force had also issued a piece of legal advice urging the Inspector General of Police to comply with the order of this court vide a letter dated, and the Inspector General of Police received it on 27/7/2022 yet he has refused to obey or comply with the judgment of this court.
“This is an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who swore on oath to uphold the rule of law and the same law he has now failed or refused to obey.
“It is also of importance to state that this court has given ample opportunities to him and the Force Secretary to appear before this court and show cause why they are not to be held to be in contempt of this court.
