Sequel to the continued disonedience a presidential directive and an order of the National Industrial Court reinstating a dismissed police officer Osondu Christian, counsel representing the dismissed policeman would commence contempt proceedings against the Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba Alkali on Tuesday.
The contempt proceeding coming barely a week a Federal High Court Abuja, sentenced the IGP to 3 months jail for disobeying a valid court order.
He disclosed that he would be dragging the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Legal Department before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee [LPDC] for not giving the IGP right legal opinion.
Counsel to Osundu, Bar Chikaosolu Ojukwu said, “the judgment was sequel to non-compliance to the decision of the Police Service Commission in a letter dated 22/07/2020 with Ref No. PSC/1524/IV/5, which directed the IGP to reinstate the dismissed officer.
“We have decided to file form 48 which is consequences to the disobedience to court order and will follow it up with form 49 for the committal to prison of the IGP if he remains adamant. “We have also written the Commissioner of Police, Legal, 72 hours within which to furnish us with his legal opinion to the IGP on this matter and after the 72 hours and he fails to respond to our request, we would have no other option than to drag him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee [LPDC].
The National Industrial Court, Abuja had ordered the IGP to reinstate to his rank, one Osondu Christian, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and pay him all his entitlements with effect from March 2019.
Chikaosolu, stated the verdict was sequel to non-compliance to the decision of the Police Service Commission in a letter dated 22/07/2020 with Ref No. PSC/1524/IV/5 which directed IGP to reinstate the dismissed officer.
In the judgment delivered by Justice O. O Oyewumi in suit NoFHC/NICN/ABJ/153/2022; between Osondu Christian Vs The Inspector General of Police & 2 Ors, the court held that;
“That the decision of the Police Service Commission as contained in its letter dated 22/07/2020 with Ref No.: PSC/1524/IV/5 reinstating the 1st respondent to his rank and entitlements in the Nigeria Police Force with effect from 26/03/2019 is valid, subsisting and binding on the Inspector General of Police.
