[JUSTIN] Contempt: Court Overturns IGP’s Conviction

A Federal High Court in Abuja has overturned its ruling sentencing Inspector General of Police Usman Baba to prison for contempt on November 29, 2022.

In a decision on Wednesday, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon declared that the IGP had substantially complied with the court’s prior order requiring the reinstatement of an officer, Patrick Okoli, who had been forced into retirement.

According to Justice Olajuwon, the IGP’s request for the vacation of the committal order is deserving of sympathetic treatment in light of the recent development.

Olajuwon said, “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.”

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The judge had found the IGP guilty on November 29 and given him a three-month prison term for disobeying the Federal High Court’s order of October 21, 2011, restoring Okoli.

The Police Council (now Police Service Commission), which claimed to have acted in accordance with Decree 17 of 1984—a decision the court invalidated in the October 2011 judgment—compulsorily retired Okoli in 1992 when he was working as a Chief Superintendent of Police in the Bauchi State Command.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a spokesperson for the Force, responded to the most recent decision by saying it was evidence of Baba’s innocence and respect for the law.

According to him, “Today’s verdict proves the innocence of the IGP, Usman Baba, and his and the NPF’s respect for the rule of law. We will, however, release an official statement soon.”