The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, filed a motion to vacate the contempt charge and committal order that were issued by the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, last Tuesday.
PUNCH METRO reported that Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had sentenced the IGP to three months in prison for disobeying a valid court order.
In a latest development, the IGP has requested that the court set aside the ruling.
“In the motion filed before the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, December 1, 2022, the IGP extensively highlighted grounds why the orders should be set aside including noting that he had not been appointed into office as Inspector-General of Police when the case was instituted and the reinstatement order in question granted.” Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said on Friday, in a press statement.
According to Adejobi, Baba also confirmed that the contempt proceedings were served on the then-IGP, not on him as the incumbent, in November 2018 and January 2019.
In his decision, the IGP also stated that even before he took office, his predecessors had taken official steps to comply with the court’s order to reinstate Patrick Okoli, the plaintiff.
Adejobi said, “As noted by him, this was evidenced by an official letter addressed to the Police Service Commission on the approval of the then IGP, as far back as 2015, and before the court order of November 29, 2022, requesting the Commission to issue a reinstatement letter to the plaintiff and also effect his promotion in line with the order of the court and in the exercise of their statutory authority in that regard. Hence, the grounds for the contempt proceedings ought not to have existed, ab initio.
“The IGP reassures Nigerians of his unalloyed commitment and steadfastness in defending the rule of law and respecting judicial authorities and hence, will not wittingly or unwittingly disobey any order validly granted by courts of competent jurisdiction.”
