NATIONAL: IGP faces contempt charge for not honouring ‘subsisting’ court judgment

THE Inspector-General of Police has been summoned by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court, Abuja over a contempt proceedings initiated against him.

The IGP, who is expected to appear the court on February 4, will be explaining why he should not be penalised for refusing to honour a subsisting judgment of the court.

Justice Ojukwu made the order in a ruling on January 16, 2021, a copy of which was obtained by journalists on Wednesday.

She gave the ruling following a form 49 filed against the IGP by Patrick Okoli, in the suit marked: ABJ/CR/637/2009.

“An order is hereby made mandating the Inspector General of Police to appear before this court on February 4, 2021 at 9am to explain why a contempt proceeding should not be taken against him for his refusal to obey the judgment of the court in this matter, which judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeal,” Ojukwu said.

She also ordered that the summons be promptly served on the IGP preparatory to the hearing scheduled for February 4.

Okoli stated, in an affidavit supporting the form 49, that he was unlawfully and compulsory retired from the Nigeria Police Force on June 16, 1992, pursuant to Decree 17 of 1984.

The applicant said he challenged the decision at the High Court of Bauchi State, which voided his retirement and ordered his reinstatement in a judgment given on February 9, 1994 in the suit marked, BA/48M/93.

Okoli added that, based on the judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation, Senate Committee on Police Affairs and the Head of Service of the Federation, wrote the IGP to comply with the judgment.

He stated that the Police Service Commission also wrote the IGP on three occasions on the need to comply with the judgment.

The applicant added that, based on the IGP’s conduct, he proceeded to the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the IGP to obey the pending judgment.

“The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered its judgment in favour of the applicant (Okoli) on October 21, 2011. The respondent (the IGP) appealed against the said judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, but the Court of Appeal, in its wisdom, struck out the appeal.

“Notwithstanding the striking out of the notice of appeal, the respondent maintained his position not to enforce the pending Federal High Court judgment”, he said.

Okoli said he initiated the contempt proceedings because the IGP has spurned further interventions by the PSC and the House of Representatives on the case.