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Personal Assistant on Political Matters to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Olalekan Alabi, has approached a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, seeking commencement of committal proceedings against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, for contempt of court.
Alabi filed the application through his counsel, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), to serve Idris Form 49, which is a notice to send him to prison for disobeying a court order to release him (Alabi) from police custody.
Serving the IGP Form 49 means that he will be summoned by the court to explain why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying a court order.
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The governor’s aide has been in police custody in Abuja since May 30, 2018 following his arrest over his alleged link with the Offa bank robbery suspects.
However, on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, the Kwara State High Court granted him an interim bail after ruling that his continued detention by the police was illegal and unjustifiable.
While granting him an interim bail in the sum of N20 million with two reliable sureties in like sum, Justice A.I. Yusuf, held that the police had failed to justify the detention of Alabi for over two months.
But in flagrant disobedience of the court order, the police have refused to release him despite meeting his bail conditions.
The development compelled the court to issue the IGP Form 48 (an initiation of contempt proceeding), on August 14, 2018.
“Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the High Court of Justice of Kwara State delivered on August 1, 2018, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,” the document stated.
The IGP has, however, failed to respond to the notice, prompting Alabi to approach the court to serve him Form 49.
