Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced the Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.
Justice Olajuwon who delivered the judgement on Tuesday said the order followed a suit filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli who claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force.
Justice Olajuwon noted that though the Police Service Commission recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the Force, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the IGP refused to comply with the order made on October 21, 2011.
The court had also ordered the payment of N10 million 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.
The court also held that 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.
