The court presided over by Justice M. O. Olajuwon gave the sentence on Tuesday, November 29, after the IGP was found guilty of disobeying a valid court order.
According to Vanguard, the court held that the IGP should be committed to prison and detained in custody for a period of 3 months, or until he obeys an order made on October 21, 2011.
The court held:
“If at the end of the three months, the contemnor remains recalcitrant and still refuses to purge his contempt, he shall be committed for another period until he purges his contempt.”
The IGP’s committal followed a suit that was filed by a police officer, Mr. Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.
Justice Olajuwon noted that though the Police Service Commission, PSC, recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the Police, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the IGP, refused to comply with the order.
The court had also ordered the payment of N10 Million to the Applicant, being special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional denial of his rights and privileges as a Senior Officer of the Nigeria Police Force from 1993 till date.