The Abuja division of the National Industrial Court has ordered the arrest of Usman Alkali, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over his disobedience of a court order.
The court gave the order alongside an order for the arrest of the Force Secretary, AIG Hafeez Inuwa.
The court ordered the arrest of the duo for their failure to obey an order it issued on April 19, 2022 which ordered the IGP to reinstate sacked officers of the Nigerian police force.
Background
Some aggrieved officers who are graduates of Courses 33, 34 and 35 of the police academy approached the court seeking redress for their forceful retirement.
They sought an order nullifying their compulsory retirement from service by the IGP.
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Delivering judgement in 2022, Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi,ordered the IGP, the Police Service Commission and the Force Secretary of the Police to reinstate the officers.
The Legal Head of Department of the Nigerian Police Force also issued a legal advice urging the Inspector General of Police to comply with the order via letter dated 27/7/2022.
However, the defendants have yet to obey the order of the court since April 19, 2022.
Court`s decision
In a recent court judgement delivered on June 8, the court ordered the arrest of the IGP and AIG for their disobedience to the court order.
The court then adjourned until October 9, 2023.
The court records state that a judgement was delivered on April 19, 2022, unequivocally ordering the immediate reinstatement of the judgement creditors/applicants. The Police Service Commission, being vested with the authority to appoint, promote, and discipline the aforementioned creditors/applicants, has been sternly instructed to comply with the court’s decision without any further delay.
“It is equally noteworthy that the CP, Legal, the Head of Department of the Nigerian Police Force had also issued a 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 judgement of this court.
This is an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who swore on oath to uphold the rule of law and same law he has now failed or refused to obey. It must be emphasized that this court has given ample opportunities for both him and the Force Secretary to appear before this court and provide valid reasons why they should not be held in contempt. However, the court records clearly indicate that they have both received the court’s order on multiple occasions, yet they have blatantly disrespected the court’s authority and defiled this sacred chamber of justice.
“Justice is not only for the affluent, it is indeed for the poor and vulnerable also. I pause to say that I wonder what type of head of an enforcement agency like the police, the Inspector General of Police is, if he finds it so difficult or so difficult it seems for him to obey a simple order of court. I also wonder the type of example he is laying for his officers if he as the head of the Nigerian Police Force has chosen/ elected to flagrantly take the law into his advised by the Police Service Commission and his own officer, the CP, Legal to comply. This I must say is preposterous and appalling.
“It is in the light of all stated which are in sync with the record of this court that I hold the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba and the Force Secretary, AIG Hafeez Inuwa for being in contempt of this court, they are to be arrested and be produced before this Court for necessary action.”
