IGP, Alkali Baba defies court order to produce detained Cameroonian

The Inspector General of Police IGP, Alkali Baba Usman on Thursday declined to produce before a Federal High Court in Abuja a Cameroonian citizen, Agborsangaya Eyong who was allegedly hauled into detention for over 400 days.

The Cameroonian national was said to have been detained for close to two years without bail.

He was alleged to have been in possession of ammunition illegally found in his house.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the detainee was not produced in court by the IGP inspite of a subsisting court order.

His counsel, Mr Danshita Shittu complained bitterly to the court that the order given to produce Eyong was not respected and obeyed by the Police Chief.

However, in a counterargument, counsel to the IGP, Assistant Superintendent of Police Joseph Udo informed the court that the detained Cameroon national was not brought to court due to the late arrival of the court order.

The police counsel also cited the bureaucratic processes between the offices of the IGP and that of the Attorney General of the Federation AGF as part of the problems adding that the matter has been referred to him for consent.

The detainee through his counsel had sought an order from the court compelling police to release him on bail pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on notice.

He also sought payment of N100 million compensation for damages for his unlawful detention as well as an apology to be published in two national dailies.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court Abuja has, however, fixed March 31 for hearing in the matter for the Cameroonian citizen to be produced in court.