Contempt: IGP Assures Nigerians Of Unflinching Commitment To Rule Of Law ...begs court to set aside proceedings, committal order

.            IGP Usman Alkali Baba 

By Foluso Adelaja, Editor

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has reassured Nigerians of his unalloyed commitment and steadfastness in defending the rule of law and respecting judicial authorities.

The Inspector General noted that he would not wittingly or unwittingly disobey any order validly granted by courts of competent jurisdiction.

IGP Usman Alkali Baba was reacting to the contempt charge levied against him by an Abuja court which committed him to a jail term.

But the IGP had now approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to file a counter motion urging the court to set aside the contempt proceeding and committal order issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, 29th November 2022, 

In the motion filed before the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, 1st December 2022, the IGP extensively highlighted grounds why the orders should be set aside, 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.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi said the IGP also affirmed that the contempt proceedings were served via substituted means in November 2018 and January, 2019 respectively, on the then Inspector-General of Police, and not on him as the incumbent.

“The IGP in his disposition further noted that even before his assumption of Office, official steps had been taken by his predecessors toward complying with the reinstatement of Patrick C. Okoli, the plaintiff, as ordered by the Court. As noted by him, this was evidenced by an official letter addressed to the Police Service Commission on the approval of the then Inspector General of Police, as far back as 2015.

“And before the court order of November 29th, 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", he told the court.