Justice Oyewumi J. of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has scheduled March 7, 2024, for a decisive hearing in the case seeking to imprison Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over contempt in the matter of DSP Osondu.
The lawsuit stems from Egbetokun’s alleged defiance of the court’s directive to reinstate Deputy Superintendent Osondu Christian, who was dismissed from the Force.
The court had previously ruled in favor of Osondu, ordering President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the Inspector General of Police to reinstate the officer and award him N10 million in damages.
In the judgment delivered by Justice O. O. Oyewumi, it was emphasized that the decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) reinstating Osondu was valid and binding on the Inspector General of Police.
The court asserted its authority to mandate the President to enforce the PSC’s decision.
The dismissed police officer, through his lawyer Ojukwu Chikaosolu, initiated committal proceedings against the police chief for continuous disobedience.
In the recent court session, scheduled due to the absence of the IGP, the presiding judge, Justice Oyewumi, fixed March 7 for a definitive hearing.
Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), representing Osondu, informed the court that the matter concerned the committal of the Inspector General of Police to prison, as the police failed to respond after their motion to set aside the court’s judgment was dismissed.
Representing the 3rd defendant, Samuel Nwizu argued against contempt proceedings targeting the President of Nigeria but conceded that such actions could be taken against the Inspector General of Police.
With no appearance from the police, the court struck out the name of the 3rd defendant.
The court granted the claimant leave to serve the 1st and 2nd Defendants through CP Legal of the Force Headquarters with Form 86 and other court processes.
The case is adjourned to March 7, 2024, for a hearing on the claimant’s motion for committal, with a directive to serve hearing notices on the 1st and 2nd defendants through the specified means.
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