Offa Bank Robbery: Kwara Gov’s Aide Files Contempt Application against IG

Hammed Shittu

The Personal Assistant on Political Matters to Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Mr. Olalekan Alabi, has filed an application before a state High Court sitting in Ilorin, seeking to commence committal proceedings against the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, for contempt of court.

Alabi approached the court through his counsel, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), to effect the service of Form 49, which is a notice of committal to prison on the IG for disobeying court order directing his release from police custody.

The service of Form 49 on the IG means that he will be summoned by the court to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for having disobeyed the order of court to release Alabi.

Alabi has been in police custody in Abuja since May 30, following his arrest over his alleged link with Offa banks robbery suspects.

On August 1, the Kwara State High Court granted him an interim bail after declaring that his continued detention by the police was illegal and unjustifiable.

While granting him an interim bail in the sum of N20 million with two reliable sureties in like sum, Justice AI Yusuf held that the police had failed to justify why they kept the governor’s aide in detention for over two months.

But in flagrant disobedience of the court order, the police refused to release Alabi from their custody despite perfecting his bail conditions.

This development necessitated the court to issue Form 48 to the IG, which is an initiation of contempt proceedings.

The form states that “take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the High Court of Justice of Kwara State delivered on August 1, 2018, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The IG has, however, failed to respond to the notice, forcing Alabi to approach the court to serve him Form 49.