The High Court has given Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinett 60 days to settle down in office and then effect an arrest warrant against Teachers Service Commission Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni.
This comes after Deputy Inspector-General of Police Samuel Arachi told the High Court on Thursday that police were unable to arrest Mr Lengoiboni as he was out of the country.
He said police officers would arrest Mr Lengoiboni as soon as he returns from a foreign trip.
Mr Lengoiboni is accused of failing to pay retired teachers Sh16.7 billion as pension and salary arrears.
Mr Arachi, who was hailed for heeding summons to attend court in person, said he had alerted the Immigration department on the pending arrest order, saying Mr Lengoiboni would be immediately arrested upon setting foot on Kenyan soil.
“The Immigration department has confirmed receiving my letter requiring them to inform me when Mr Lengoiboni left and when he is expected back in the country, upon which we will arrest him pursuant to the court order issued by this court,” he said.
Last month, Justice Janet Mulwa directed police to arrest the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) boss and escort him to Kamiti Maximum Prison to serve a six-month jail term for failing to pay teachers’ arrears.
Justice Mulwa reiterated that Mr Boinett must ensure that Mr Lengoiboni is arrested and escorted to Kamiti for disobeying a court order.
ENGAGE TEACHERS' LAWYERS
She also urged the government to engage the retired teachers’ lawyers to speed up the release of the money so as to end the perennial suffering of the senior citizens who she said had spent their lives serving the country.
However, lawyer Steve Sitima told the court that Mr Lengoiboni had done all in his powers to have the money released but his hands were tied since the matter involved numerous government departments that were unwilling to act expeditiously and have the money released to him for subsequent payment to the retired teachers.
Mr Arachi confirmed his office had received the order on February 26, when he was out of office attending an East African police chiefs’ two-day symposium in Naivasha.
On February 28, he joined President Uhuru for a two-day tour of Meru and on March 1, he attended the official opening of the Maua AP Marathon and Sports Centre.
“On March 3, I resumed office and gave strict instructions to my officers to enforce the order to the letter. But Mr Lengoiboni has since left the country for an official visit to Rabat in Morocco and was due to return yesterday (Wednesday),” he said.
The deputy police boss said Immigration officials had been placed on high alert to inform police as soon as the TSC boss arrives in the country, adding that he would be arrested for subsequent escort to Kamiti Maximum Prison.
“I have placed officers on standby at the airport and others at his officers with strict instructions to arrest him upon seeing him pursuant to the court order,” he said.
The case is to be mentioned on May 28.
From Nation.co.ke