The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun be served with Forms 48 and 49, directing him to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for alleged disobedience of a court order.
Justice Alexander Owoeye ruled that the contempt processes, including Forms 48 and 49, be served on the IGP by substituted service through the Commissioner of Police, Legal Department, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The order followed the grant of an ex-parte motion filed by a businesswoman, Mrs. Mabel Alabijah Hussein, through her counsel, Kola Sodiya.
The application alleged a breach of an earlier court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of a suit she filed against the IGP and others, marked FHC/L/CS/1468/2025.
Also joined as respondents in the suit are the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force CID, Area 10, Abuja; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Force CID Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos; the 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 the second to ninth respondents.
The application arose from the alleged disobedience of an earlier order made on October 9, 2025, in which the court restrained all the respondents from taking further steps in connection with the suit and directed them to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the applicant’s fundamental rights application.
In her ex parte motion, the applicant sought leave to serve Form 48 dated January 6, 2026, Form 49, and all other processes relating to the contempt proceedings on the IGP by substituted means, through the Commissioner of Police, Legal Department, at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The applicant alleged that the IGP, the eighth respondent, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogombo Police Station, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, disobeyed the subsisting court order by failing to maintain the status quo.
She alleged that they took further steps in the matter by making attempts to arrest her and her eight-year-old daughter on December 16, 2025, contrary to the court’s order restraining such actions pending the determination of the suit.
She further claimed that, despite the restraining order issued on October 9, 2025, the eighth respondent continued to instigate police officers to harass, investigate, and attempt to arrest her.
As a result, she said she and her daughter had been living in fear and had gone into hiding since December 16, 2025, following repeated police visits and invitations.
The applicant also alleged that the DPO of Ogombo Police Station, who invited her for questioning on December 16, 2025, acted under the authority and direction of the IGP.
She further claimed that efforts were being made to arrest her with the intention of taking her daughter away and handing the child over to the eighth respondent.
After hearing the submissions of the applicant’s counsel and reviewing the processes before the court, Justice Owoeye granted the application.
Ruling, the judge held 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 processes relating to the contempt proceedings be served on the IGP through the Commissioner of Police, Legal Department, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The matter was adjourned to March 10 for a report of service.
