The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has reacted to the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja, sentencing him (IGP) to three months in prison for flouting a 2011 court order.
The IGP’s committal followed a suit that was filed by a police officer, Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi issued said the IGP did not disregard the court order or the rule of law as “the office is not aware of any Court Order, during the current IGP’s tenure, with respect to a matter making the round in the media that the IGP disobeyed a Court Order for the reinstatement of a dismissed officer of the Force”.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state emphatically that the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba did not disregard Court Order or rule of law as the office is not aware of any Court Order, during the current IGP’s tenure, with respect to a matter making the round in the media that the IGP disobeyed a Court Order for the reinstatement of a dismissed officer of the Force.
“It is instructive to note that the case in point concerns an officer who was dismissed as far back as 1992, a few years after the current IGP joined the Nigeria Police Force, based on available facts gleaned from the reports. The most recent judgement on the matter was given in 2011 which should ordinarily not fall under the direct purview of the current administration of the Force. Thus, the news is strange and astonishing.
“The IGP has however directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Legal Unit to investigate the allegation in a bid to ascertain the position of the court and profer informed legal advice for the IGP’s prompt and necessary action.
“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates his commitment to upholding the rule of law and synergizing with the judiciary to ensure quick dispensation of justice for an improved criminal justice system.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has vacated its November 29, 2022 order committing the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba to prison for contempt.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, in a ruling on Wednesday, held that there was evidence before her court that the IGP has substantially complied with the court’s earlier order directing the reinstatement of Patrick Okoli, who was compulsorily retired as a police office.

Justice Olajuwon held that in view of the development, the application by the IGP, seeking the vacation of the committal order, “is worthy of sympathetic consideration.”

The judge added: “There is before this court, the affidavit evidence that in 2015 the former occupant of the office of the applicant (IGP), commenced the implementation of the order of this court made on the 25th of October 2011.

“Exhibits UAB2 and UAB3 are said to be the evidence of the implementation. Exhibit UAB2 is an internal memo. In exhibit UAB2 the Secretary to the IGP gave a brief facts of the case, his observation and recommendation to the IGP. This was on the 10th of October 2015.

“It was recommended, in the memo, that the IGP formally accepted the respondent’s (Okoli’s) reinstatement to the rank of DCP and that the Police Service Commission (PSC) be required by the IGP to issue the respondent a letter of retirement in view of his age or 35 years of pensionable service, terminating his service in the Police Force in accordance with the Public Service Rules to enable the respondent process his entitlement.

“Based on the memo, on the 20th of November 2015 the applicant (the IGP) via exhibit UAB3 wrote to the Chairman, Police Service Commission, referred to the commission’s letter reinstating the respondent and observed that the reinstatement has been done in obedience to court order.

“He (the IGP) recommended that the commission issues the respondent with a letter of retirement, terminating his service in accordance with the Public Service Rules so that the respondent could process his entitlement.
“There is nothing before this court showing the that Police Service Commission formally retired the respondent as recommended, so that the respondent could process his entitlement.
“The order of mandamus, as granted by this court, which led to the contempt proceedings, is that the applicant complies with the content of a letter dated the 5th of May 2009.
“The content is that it was resolved by the commission that the respondent be reinstated and resume duty, that his promotion and entitlement would be worked out and conveyed to him through the applicant.
“I am of the firm belief that the applicant complied with and acknowledged the order of the court when, in exhibit UAB3, he observed that the reinstatement and promotion had been done in accordance with the order of the court and recommended further steps to be taken by the commission for the respondent to get his entitlement.
“It must however be stated that the applicant did not place before this court exhibits UAB2 and UAB3 during the contempt proceedings, maybe same would have persuaded this court into favourably considering the position of the applicant.
“This would not have however, made the order of this court a nullity because, at the time the order of committal was made, there was nothing before this court for a deferent decision to have been made.
“After the order made by this court citing the applicant for contempt, the applicant has further taken steps towards the fulfillment of the order of this court by writing a follow up letter to the commission, referring to his earlier letter and stating that the commission’s response was still being awaited so he could act appropriately.
“All of this shows substantial compliance with the order of this court.
“And, with the assurance given by the applicant that the judgment of this court is being complied with as it requires adherence with some internal procedures and in addition, that the Nigeria Police Force did not intentionally set out to disobey the order of this court, I believe that the application of the applicant for a discharge is worthy of a sympathetic consideration.
“In view of the substantial compliance with the order of the court and the assurance of ensuring full compliance, the order commuting the applicant, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, is hereby set aside,” she said.
Justice Olajuwon had, in the ruling of November 29 convicted the IGP and sentenced him to a three-month jail term for failing to obey the October 21, 2011 judgment of the Federal High Court reinstating Okoli.
Okoli was compulsory retired in 1992 while serving in the Bauchi State Command as a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) by the Police Council (now Police Service Commission (PSC), which claimed to have acted under Decree 17 of 1984, a decision the court voided in the October 2011 judgment.