ABUJA/Nigeria: Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of defying a court order that prohibited the arrest or detention of the lawmaker. The Federal High Court in Abuja issued the restraining order on July 17, 2024, under Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/2916/2024 and Motion No. M/9638/2024, which specifically directed that Nwaoboshi should not be arrested or detained by the Nigeria Police Force or any other law enforcement agencies until the final determination of his case.
Despite the court’s ruling, Senator Nwaoboshi has claimed that the police have failed to adhere to the order. This non-compliance has led his legal team to initiate contempt proceedings against the IGP, asserting that such actions undermine the judicial system and the rule of law. The senator’s legal counsel emphasized that Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act grants them the authority to seek contempt charges for the disregard of court orders.
Describing the IGP’s actions as “an affront to the judicial system,” Nwaoboshi condemned the failure to follow the court’s directive, stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the judiciary. “An order of court, whether right or wrong, must be obeyed unless set aside by the same court or overturned on appeal,” the senator’s legal team declared, underscoring that defiance of a judgment or restraining order constitutes contempt.
Justice Kekemeke, in his ruling, had clearly stated that “the Respondents, either by themselves or through their officers, agents, whosoever of whatsoever designation, are hereby restrained from further arrest or detention of the Applicant until the final determination of the Motion on Notice.” The court has set October 28, 2024, for the hearing of the substantive motion, granting Nwaoboshi temporary legal protection from further law enforcement actions.
With Nwaoboshi’s legal team preparing to challenge the police’s defiance, the case is likely to attract considerable attention, given its potential political and legal ramifications.
