By Edna Ezinneamaka Onunaku
The Nigeria Police Force has denied knowledge of the Court Order to reinstate dismissed police officer, Patrick Okoli.
Nwafolive had earlier reported that the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, sentenced the IGP to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.
The Police denial is contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. It read in part:
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state emphatically that the office of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+),NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, 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 says 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,” it stated.
In view of this, the Police announced that the IGP has 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 IGP, meanwhile, has reiterated 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.
