The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, be served with Forms 48 and 49 in a contempt proceeding arising from an alleged disobedience of a court order.
Justice Alexander Owoeye ruled that the contempt processes be served on the IGP by substituted service through the Commissioner of Police, Legal Department, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The order followed the granting of an ex parte motion filed by a businesswoman, Mrs. Mabel Alabijah Hussein, through her counsel, Kola Sodiya.
Mrs. Hussein 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 listed 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.
The application arose from the alleged disobedience of an order made on October 9, 2025, in which the court restrained all the respondents from taking further steps in the matter and directed them to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the applicant’s fundamental rights suit.
In her ex parte motion, the applicant sought leave to serve Form 48 dated January 6, 2026, Form 49, and 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.
She alleged that the IGP, the eighth respondent, and the Divisional Police Officer of Ogombo Police Station, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, disobeyed the subsisting court order by failing to maintain the status quo.
According to her, attempts were made on December 16, 2025, to arrest her and her eight-year-old daughter, contrary to the court’s restraining order.
She further alleged that, despite the court order, the eighth respondent continued to instigate police officers to harass, investigate, and attempt to arrest her, forcing her and her daughter to live in fear and go into hiding.
The applicant also claimed that the Divisional Police Officer acted under the authority and direction of the IGP and 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 submissions and reviewing the processes before the court, Justice Owoeye granted the application, holding that the applicant was entitled to serve the contempt processes by substituted means.
He accordingly ordered that Forms 48 and 49, along with 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 case was adjourned to March 10 for a report of service.
