IGP excited as court sets aside jail order

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has commended the Federal High Court in Abuja, for setting aside contempt proceedings and a committal order against him.

This was as he reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under his watch to uphold and respect the rule of law and ensure the continuous protection of the fundamental rights of all persons.

The PUNCH reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, on Wednesday, set aside the contempt proceedings and committal order against the office of the IGP.

The court similarly discharged and acquitted the IGP of the conviction and three months sentence.

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This followed a motion filed before the Federal High Court on December 1, highlighting the basis why the order should be vacated, particularly as the NPF argued that it had complied with the original court ruling for the reinstatement of one Patrick Okoli, the plaintiff in the matter.

The PUNCH reports that the earlier ruling was predicated on a reinstatement order for the plaintiff, whose dismissal was described as wrongful by the court.

In a statement on Wednesday, Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said it was noteworthy that previous IGPs had complied with the order in line with the statutory authority of the office of the IGP.

Adejobi said, “This is because of several letters and reminders earlier sent to the Police Service Commission, the body statutorily responsible for effecting such reinstatements, requesting compliance with the court order to reinstate and promote the officer to his deserved rank.

“The learned 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.”

In another development, the IGP has redeployed the supervising Deputy Inspector-General of Police, South-East Geo-Political Zone, John Amadi, who was hitherto in charge of the Department of Research and Planning, to the Department of Logistics and Supply, Force Headquarters, Abuja, following the retirement of DIG Zanna Ibrahim.

The move, according to the IGP, is to promote professionalism and efficiency in the NPF.

Adejobi said, “Similarly, new heads have been posted to some commands and formations to ensure that officers are tasked with roles commensurate with their professional capability and capacity.

“The other newly posted senior police officers include CP Patrick Longe who takes over as Commissioner of Police in charge of Osun State Police Command, CP Adepoju 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 Olaleye as CP Administration, FCID, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”