Contempt proceedings launched against IG
By Innocent ANABA
Contempt proceedings has been initiated against the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonaya Onovo, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, for allegedly disobeying an order of the court, directing the release on bail of a Petroleum Dealer, Alhaji Safiriyu Kazeem.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice Binta Nyako.
Alhaji Safiriyu had gone to court to enforce his fundamental human rights, following his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over a petition by one, Biodun Omotade regarding a N200 million loan dispute.
Other defendants in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the EFCC and the petitioner, Mrs. Omotade. Safiriyu in the suit, had prayed the court to declare that his detention by the EFCC is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void. He had also prayed the court to restrain the EFCC, whether itself or any of its officers from freezing his account without an order of court. Justice Nyako in her ruling in the suit, granted bail to the applicant (Alhaji Kazeem) on self recognition and he was eventually released March 17, 2010.
The judge had also ordered that the applicant’s account be defrozen and his house unlocked. However, despite the subsisting order of the court, the applicant was again invited by the office of the Inspector General of Police on June 15, 2010 over another petition allegedly written by Mrs. Folashade and he has since been in police detention.
The contempt proceedings was initiated following the refusal of the police to release the applicant despite the fact that the IG was informed of the existing order of the court through a letter written to him by the applicant’s counsel, Sina Sofola, SAN.
Consequently, the court ordered that the Inspector General of Police be joined as the 4th respondent in the suit having come into the matter by inviting and detaining the applicant. Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to July 2.
