The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, Wednesday, set aside the contempt proceedings and committal order against the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Baba.
The Court similarly discharged and acquitted the IGP of the conviction and three months sentence.
The Federal High Court had sentenced the IGP to three months in prison for flouting a 2011 court order to reinstate Patrick Okoli who was forcefully retired from the Nigeria Police Force and had filed the suit to reverse the action.
The judge said the police boss should be committed to prison for a period of three months, or until his office implemented an order made by the court since October 21, 2011.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a press statement, Wednesday in Abujq, said the dismissal of the committal order and acquittal of the police boss followed the motion filed before the Federal High Court on Thursday December 1, 2022, highlighting the basis why the order should be vacated, particularly as the Force had complied with the original ruling of the court for the reinstatement of one Patrick C. Okoli, the plaintiff in the matter.
He noted the, “The earlier ruling was predicated on a reinstatement order for the plaintiff, a dismissed police officer, whose dismissal was ruled to be wrongful by the Court.
“It is noteworthy that earlier Inspectors-General of Police had complied with the order in line with the statutory authority of the Office of the IGP. This is in view of several letters and reminders earlier sent to the Police Service Commission (PSC), the body statutorily responsible for effecting such reinstatements, requesting compliance with the court order to reinstate and promote the officer to his deserved rank.”
According to the spokesperson, “The learned Honourable Justice in his ruling held that the IGP has substantially complied with the judgment of the court earlier delivered in 2011 since 2015, and is therefore entitled to acquittal, and accordingly acquitted him of any wrongdoing.
“The IGP has, therefore, commended the Court for setting aside the order, while reiterating the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under his watch to uphold and respect the rule of law, and ensure the continuous protection of the fundamental rights of all persons.
In another development, the IGP has redeployed the supervising Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, South-east Geo-Political Zone, DIG John Amadi, who was hitherto in charge of the Department of Research and Planning, to the Department of Logistics and Supply, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The FPRO, who said the deployment followed the retirement of DIG Zanna M. Ibrahim, disclosed that DIG Amadi, a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), hails from Ebonyi state and is qan alumnus of the University of Lagos.
He said the police boss also approved the posting of new heads for some Commands and Formations to ensure that officers were tasked with roles commensurate with their professional capability and capacity.
The other newly posted senior police officers include CP Patrick Kehinde Longe who takes over as Commissioner of Police in charge of Osun State Police Command; CP Adepoju Ayinde Ilori, who takes charge of the Police Special Fraud Unit (FCID) Annex, Lagos with effect from December 28, 2022; CP Isyaku Mohammed appointed as the Head of Police Accounts and Budget; and CP Faleye E.S. Olaleye as CP Administration, FCID, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
