Court voids IGP conviction
The order that was issued on November 29, 2022 by a Federal High Court in Abuja that would have sent the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to prison for contempt has been vacated.
In a decision that she issued on Wednesday, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon held that there was evidence in front of her court indicating that the IGP has substantially complied with the court’s earlier order directing the reinstatement of an officer named Patrick Okoli who was compulsorily retired.
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In light of the new information, Justice Olajuwon determined that the application by the IGP seeking the vacation of the committal order is deserving of sympathetic consideration and held that it should be granted.
Olajuwon stated that “the order commuting the applicant, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, is hereby set aside in light of the substantial compliance with the order of the court and the assurance of ensuring full compliance.”
In the ruling that was handed down on November 29, the judge found the IGP guilty and handed down a sentence of three months in jail for failing to obey the judgement that was handed down by the Federal High Court on October 21, 2011, which reinstated Okoli.
Okoli was forced into retirement in 1992 while working as a Chief Superintendent of Police for the Bauchi State Command by the Police Council, which is now known as the Police Service Commission.
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The Police Council claimed to have acted in accordance with Decree 17 of 1984; however, this decision was overturned by the court in its October 2011 judgement.
In response to the most recent verdict, the spokesperson for the Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that the decision was a demonstration of respect for the rule of law as well as Baba’s innocence.
Adejobi stated that “the verdict handed down today proves the innocence of the IGP, Usman Baba, as well as his and the NPF’s respect for the rule of law.” On the other hand, we are going to issue a formal statement very soon.”
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