The IGP of police has been summoned to the court with immediate effect for undermining a court ruling.
IGP, Solomon Arase
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to appear before it on February 8 to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt, the Nigerian Tribune reports.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order in a ruling he delivered on Monday in a post-judgment case on wrongful dismissal of Sergeant Atabo Okpanashi.
"The IG thinks that he is a big fish and has refused to obey the order of the court and has not even sent a representative or any apologies all through the case. He feels he can do anything with impunity.
"With this new era of change, one would have thought that the IG, being a number one law enforcer, would have known that he is not above the law and must comply with court orders.
"By the rules of the court, my oath of office and regulations of the National Judicial Council, I order that the IG be present in court on February 8 to show reason an order for committal to prison should not be made against him.
"It is not good that the Nigerian Police Force, a public institution, and the court, another public institution, should be on a collision course, it would create a state of anarchy.
"On December 2, this court granted a short adjournment till today for the police institution to purge itself of contempt by registering appearance.
"The refusal of the IG to appear before the court after several notices were served on him is the height of impunity," he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Okpanashi had dragged the police before the court over his wrongful dismissal and had demanded payment of all his entitlements and emoluments.