Police yet to obey court order, detain businessman in contempt of court

ARINZE NWAFOR, Lagos

A court order for the arrest and detention of a businessman for contempt of court is yet to be obeyed by the police in almost a month since its issuance by Justice Akintunde Savage of a Lagos State High Court.

The court order against the businessman, Dada Aigbe, a freight forwarder and Chairman of Confidence Cargo, was that he be imprisoned for contempt after he failed to honour court invitations to attend proceedings.

The judge, Savage had on March 11, ordered that Aigbe be imprisoned for one month until he purges himself of the contempt.

Savage gave the order for the businessman’s arrest after a form 48 and 49 contempt proceeding application was filed and moved by Maruf Jimoh-Akogun, counsel to the claimant in the suit marked no ID/3831LMW/2016.

In his enrollment order, Savage ruled that the Aigbe would be detained unless the businessman purged himself of the contempt of the court and filed an affidavit not to disobey his court or any other court’s order.

The deputy sheriff of the State High Court engaged the services of the Lagos State Police Command and took a “Request for Police Assistance” form dated March 18 to the Lagos Commissioner of Police.

According to the Sheriff’s form, it is required “Under the provision of section 11 Sheriff and Civil Procedure Cap 127 Laws of Lagos State, 1973, that police will be providing constable to accompany the Sheriff to No 7a Adeola Ajayi Crescent, Airport Road, Lagos State to execute the warrant.”

Daily Champion learned from the claimant that the police had arrested Aigbe at the NAHCO area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, but handed him over to the officer in charge of Crack Squad, CP Joel Ugowe, who allegedly released him in violation of the court order.

The crack squad officer, CP Ugowe, declined to confirm to judiciary reporters whether Aigbe was committed to the Kirikiri Maximum prison in compliance with the court order, firstly over a phone conversation.

Daily Champion understands that another attempt by the judiciary reporters at reaching the crack squad officer to confirm or deny the allegation by the claimants was unfruitful as CP Ugowe did not honour an appointment with the reporters on the pretext of meeting with the Commissioner of Police for over three hours.

The claimant alleged that the police failed to commit the businessman to the correctional centre as Aigbe was at his workplace at NAHCO Airport Road.

The judiciary reporters contacted Rotimi Oladokun, the Lagos State Public Relations Officer of the Correctional Facility.

He noted that the facility would have documented the police bringing in the businessman to serve his time in compliance with the court order.

Oladokun confirmed the businessman is not in their custody as of April 4 and said “Kindly contact the arresting or prosecuting agency.”

Jimoh-Akogun’s application for a court order was in a case instituted by a traditional ruler, Oba Shakirudeen Adeshina-Kuti for themselves on behalf of the Ajamogun/ Onikotun family of Ewu kingdom.

The claimant’s suit was against the traditional ruler in Isolo, Oba Agbabiaka Orisedeko-Elemo and the Baale Mafoluku-Ajao Estate, Chief Hussam  Shekoni-Elemo as the first and second defendants respectively.