Court Rules Substituted Service in Contempt Case Involving IGP

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun be served with court processes in a contempt proceeding over alleged disobedience of a previous court order.

Justice Alexander Owoeye directed that Forms 48 and 49, which require the IGP to show cause why he should not be committed for contempt, be served on him by substituted service through the Commissioner of Police, Legal Department, at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The order followed an ex-parte application filed by businesswoman Mrs. Mabel Alabijah Hussein, through her lawyer Kola Sodiya, alleging that the IGP and other respondents had violated a prior court order.

The original order, issued on October 9, 2025, restrained all parties from taking any action in relation to a suit she filed against the IGP and others marked FHC/L/CS/1468/2025—and directed that the status quo be maintained pending final determination of her fundamental rights application.

Other respondents in the case include the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force CID, Area 10 Abuja; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Force CID Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Onikan; CSP P. Bolugi; Inspector Aba Yomi Michael; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Adedeji Adesiyan; and Citadel Views Gardens and Estates Ltd., listed as second to ninth respondents.

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Mrs. Hussein alleged that the IGP and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogombo Police Station, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, disobeyed the October 2025 order by attempting to arrest her and her eight-year-old daughter on December 16, 2025. She claimed the IGP continued to instigate police officers to harass, investigate, and attempt her arrest, forcing her and her daughter into hiding.

She further stated that the DPO acted under the authority and direction of the IGP, with attempts reportedly being made to take her daughter away and hand her over to the eighth respondent.

In granting the application, Justice Owoeye ruled that the applicant was entitled to serve the contempt processes by substituted means. He ordered that Form 48 dated January 6, 2026, Form 49, and all other related processes be served on the IGP through the Commissioner of Police, Legal Department, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The court adjourned the matter to March 10 for a report on the service of the processes.

Lagos Court Orders IGP Kayode Egbetokun to Be Served Contempt Notice Over Alleged Court Order Breach