IGP Alkali Baba. Photo:Archive/Radio Nigeria
The Federal High Court in Awka has set aside its sack order on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba.
The court upheld the right of Alkali to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution which was not guaranteed by the plaintiff in his application.
It said it was convinced by the depositions of the court bailiff that the IGP was not served the originating summons.
Justice Fatun Riman reversed the court’s earlier judgment following an application by the IGP’s Counsel, Abdullahi Abdulhakeem Ago against a previous ruling in favour of a plaintiff, Okechukwu Nwafor.
Justice Riman, who gave the order, insisted that IGP’s continued stay in office was against the clear provisions of the Police Act, 2020.
Responding, the IGP asked the court to set aside the judgment because the subject matter had been determined by another Federal High Court presided over by Justice J.K. Omotosho in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/31/2023.
The court upheld the arguments of the Inspector-General of Police in a 17-page ruling on June 15, 2023.
According to Justice Riman, a court can reverse its judgment where there was a fundamental error.
The Federal High Court in Awka on May 19 declared that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, was an illegal occupant of the office of IGP.
Writing Hadiza Abdulrahman; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu