Nigeria's police chief sentenced to 3 months in prison

By Olanrewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) – Nigeria’s police chief Usman Alkali Baba has been sentenced to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

The Federal High Court in the capital Abuja announced the ruling on Tuesday in a case related to the 1992 dismissal of a police officer.

The officer, Patrick Okoli, had challenged his forced retirement, and a court quashed his dismissal in 2011.

Since the police force has yet to reinstate Okoli, the high court found Inspector General Baba guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to three months in jail.

The court has also ordered Baba to pay 10 million naira ($22,500) to Okoli as “special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional denial of his rights and privileges.”

In a statement, police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi denied that Baba “disobeyed a court order for the reinstatement of a dismissed officer.”

He said the decision to fire Okoli was taken by the previous police chief and not Baba, who assumed the post in 2021.​​​​​​​