Group To IG: Reverse Dismissal Of Pregnant Unmarried Corporal, Or We Meet In Court

The Women Empowerment and Legal Aid has written a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, asking him to reverse the dismissal of an unmarried corporal in Ekiti State, Omotola Olajide, for getting pregnant or face a lawsuit, The Punch has reported.

This was contained in a letter titled, ‘Request to Recall Dismissed Pregnant Police Officer’ which was signed by the Chairman of WELA, Mrs. Funmi Falana, on Thursday.

“Take notice that if our request is not granted, we shall challenge the dismissal of Mrs. Omotola at the National Industrial Court and pray for the annulment of Regulation 127 made pursuant to the Police Act, 2020,” the letter read.

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The group noted that in justifying the discriminatory treatment meted out to Miss Omotola the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, said that “it was the Police Act Section 124 that was repealed by the court, not Section 127. Section 127 still stands.”

According to WELA, since the views expressed by the police spokesman represents the official position of the Nigeria Police Force it is pertinent to refer the police authorities to the case of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2015) 1 NHRLR 39.

In the case in point, the Federal High Court Per Adah J. (as he then was) held as follows: “The most fundamental issue is if this is the policy laid down for the police, does it apply to the men folk? It is not. So it is only issued to women police officers because of their gender as women and this is very much unconstitutional.”

According to the group, under Section 5(3) of the Police Act 2020, the Nigeria Police Force is charged with the responsibility of promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of all persons as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The letter further read, “In view of the foregoing, you will agree with us that Section 127 of the Police Regulation which discriminates against police women is illegal and unconstitutional. In other words, since policemen who impregnate women before marriage are allowed to remain in the Nigeria Police Force

“It is discriminatory and unjust to dismiss a police woman for getting pregnant before marriage. Finally, as it is indisputable that Corporal Omotola is entitled to freedom from discrimination guaranteed by Section 42 of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights we request you to use your good offices to order her reinstatement not later than January 31, 2021.”