Over his persistent disobedience to orders of the court, the National Industrial Court in Abuja has threatened to jail the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman.
The court on Thursday held that the action of the IGP to the rule of law is unbecoming of a top-ranking federal official and an affront to the 1999 Constitution.
In an enrolled order issued by the court and endorsed by Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, the court gave the IGP until May 2, 2023, to appear before it and purge himself of contempt of court or be committed in prison.
Justice Oyewumi in the enrolled order said the IGP, no matter his rank, is not above the law and would be made to respect the law.
The reaction of the court follows a suit instituted by four senior-ranking police officers from courses 33, 34 and 35 who were compulsorily and unlawfully retired from the force.
They are Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) Egong Egwu Egong, Omeh Felix Okechukwu. Paul Obot Umoh and Superintendent of Police (SP) Galadima Bello.
The officers sued the IGP on behalf of themselves and affected members of Course 33, 34 and 35 who were compulsorily shovelled out of service prematurely.
In a judgment in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/21/M/2023, the court had nullified the premature retirement of the senior police officers numbering about 20 and ordered the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to immediately reinstate them.
However, the Police Chief and the Force Secretary who are the key defendants in the legal action argued by Edwin Okoro on behalf of the retired police officers were said to have bluntly refused to comply with the reinstatement order of the court.
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