Retirement: Lawyer urges IGP Alkali to obey court order

*Alleges IGP is in contempt of court

AnAbuja-based legal practitioner and rights activist, Silas Joseph Onu, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to respect the judgement of the court and vacate office as ordered by the court.

Onu in a statement issued in Abuja, Wednesday, stated that as it stands with the judgement of the Federal High Court Over in Awka, the IGP is currently occupying office illegally.

According to him, the statement in defence of IGP by the spokesman of the police, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, cannot override the judgement of the court.

The lawyer insisted that the explanation by the spokesperson of the Police on behalf of the IGP cannot stand as he is allegedly in total disregard for law and order as contained in the Federal High Court judgment that determined his “unlawful appointment and stays in office.”

Adding: “It is not surprising, therefore to see that an appointee of former President Muhammadu Buhari is struggling to remain in office months after he ceased to be a Police officer by operation of law as contained in Section 18(8) of the Police Act, 2020, which is an incorporation of the Public Service Rule that enjoys Constitutional backing.

“The said Federal High Court Judgment of May 19, 2023, was very clear on this point and held that even the appointment/appointment letter that CSP Adejobi is holding up as a justification to disobey a valid court order was declared to be unlawful.

“While in every judgment there is certainly a right of appeal, such a right does not create an occasion for disobeying the judgment that is validly given. It is over 10 days since the judgment was given and there is no injunction staying the judgment pending appeal.

“This is a declaratory judgment that requires immediate obedience even if the former IGP desires to appeal same. He can appeal from his retirement and if he succeeds, then he would have strengthened the law as that office was not created by his father but by the Nigerian Constitution – therefore, it is not a personal property that he should hold on to while claiming that he intends to appeal.

“One of the implications of his disobedience to this valid court order is that he has directly brought the Nigerian Police Force into disrepute”, the lawyer said.

He added that as a new administration takes off in the country, it was hoped that it will not allow lawlessness in any form or manner.

“The former IGP is holding on to office as if he is a politician and unwilling to leave office after his lawful retirement and a valid judgment restating that fact.”