THE National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja earlier today ordered the arrest of the Inspector-General of Police (|GP), Usman Alkali Baba, and the Force Secretary, AlG Hafeez Inuwa following the failure of the duo to obey a court order, an action considered as an act of contempt.
The court had previously directed the Inspector-General to re-engage some police officers, graduates of Courses 33, 34, and 35 from the police academy, who were reportedly forced into retirement.
However, the court order was allegedly disregarded by the Inspector-General.
The officers, who were forcefully retired, took their grievances to the court and sought an order to nullify their compulsory retirement.
Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, having listened to the complaint of the plaintiffs, ruled that the Inspector-General, the Police Service Commission, and the Force Secretary should restore the officers to their positions.
However, despite the directive of the court as contained in the judgment delivered on 19 April 2022, the Inspector-General and other defendants in the suit failed, neglected or ignored to carry out the order
Meanwhile, in a recent directive given on 8th June 2023, Justice Oyewumi reprimanded the Inspector-General for not complying with the court’s ruling, despite advice from pertinent police force stakeholders.
The court order criticized the Inspector-General for his defiance: “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”, Justice Oyewumi held, expressing dismay at the precedent being set by the police chief’s behaviour and describing the situation as “preposterous and appalling.”
The court thereafter declared the Inspector-General and the Force Secretary in contempt of court, demand their arrest and appearance before the court for “necessary action.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media