A suit filed by the Ekiti state government against the inspector-general of police (IGP) over the firing of a pregnant officer was dismissed by a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti.

Olajide Omolola, a single police corporal assigned to the Iye-Ekiti station, was fired after becoming pregnant.

The state commissioner of police, Babatunde Mobayo, had justified Olajide’s dismissal by claiming that the officer had broken section 127 of the police regulations.

Following his dismissal, Ekiti state attorney-general and commissioner for justice Olawale Fapohunda filed a lawsuit asking the court to strike down section 127 of the Police Act, which states that “an unmarried woman police officer who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the force and shall not be re-enlisted except with the approval of the inspector-general.”

The officer, an Ekiti native, was fired because she became pregnant before she was officially married, according to Fapohunda

However, police attorney Femi Falade objected to the complainant’s petitions, claiming that a similar case had been filed in Akure’s national industrial court.

The judge found in favor of the plaintiff and provided relief related to “locus standi,” such as whether the court has jurisdiction and if the proper parties have been joined in the claim.

Previously, the judge found in favor of the plaintiff and provided relief related to “locus standi,” such as whether the court has jurisdiction and if the proper parties have been joined in the claim.

Fapounda told journalists shortly after the court session that he had requested a copy of the verdict from the court so that he could figure out what to do next.

He expressed his excitement at the court’s decision that he has the “locus standi” to file the lawsuit, which he claims will be of public interest, particularly for indigenous peoples, and that female police officers should not be discriminated against.

The suit was dismissed on Thursday by Babs Kuewumi, the presiding judge, on the grounds that it was an abuse of the legal process.

“This suit cannot lawfully coexist with NICN/AK/14/2021, which is pending in the national industrial court in Akure, Ondo state.
“This suit’s originating summons is hereby dismissed,” the judge said.

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