Tension flared in court as a Federal High Court judge weighed the dramatic possibility of committing Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) to prison over alleged disobedience of a court order in the disappearance case of John Anozie — a case tied to the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
In a moment that stunned observers, the judge presented two stark options: move forward with contempt proceedings that could land the IGP in prison, or hold a closed-door, solution-driven meeting in her chambers aimed at breaking the long-running deadlock.
Mrs. Anozie’s lawyer voiced frustration, revealing that previous letters to authorities had produced no meaningful response. But the judge pushed back, stressing that an official communication from the court carries far greater authority than correspondence from private counsel.
She also made a striking remark — that jailing the IGP might not necessarily solve the underlying issue — signaling a preference for resolution over escalation.
After a brief consultation, the IGP’s legal team agreed to the in-chambers meeting. The case was adjourned until April 23, with the court directing parties to fix a date for the high-stakes discussion before then.
Ghost of #EndSARS Returns
Anozie’s disappearance is among the cases linked to alleged abuses by SARS, a unit long accused of torture, extortion, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances before it was dissolved following the nationwide #EndSARS protests of October 2020.
Court documents name officers allegedly connected to the case as Anthony Obiozor Ikechukwu, Uzochukwu Emeana, John Eze (also known as T Boy), and Sunday Okpe — some now reportedly retired.
In December, Mrs. Anozie escalated the matter by filing contempt proceedings, serving Form 48 and later Form 49 after what she described as continued non-compliance with a September 2025 court order. Her application sought the IGP’s committal to Kuje prison in Abuja until compliance is secured.
For many Nigerians, the courtroom drama is more than a legal dispute — it is a test of accountability in the post-#EndSARS era.
Will the in-chambers meeting bring closure, or will the court take the unprecedented step of jailing the nation’s top police officer?
All eyes now turn to April 23.
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