The inability of the Lagos State command of the Correctional Service to get a record of a convict, Mr Dada Aigbe, imprisoned by a Lagos State High Court over a contempt charge has continued to generate dust within the state.
Aigbe, a freight forwarder, was convicted and ordered to be imprisoned by a Lagos State High Court.
Aigbe, chairman of Confidence Cargo, a freight forwarder was commited to one month imprisonment by Hon. Justice Akintunde Savage for contempt of court.
Investigation revealed however, that rather than the convict to be in prison, he was allegedly found in his office in NAHCO, Ikeja Lagos carrying out his normal duties, indicating that the order of court was disobeyed.
A call to the Lagos command of the Correctional Center for update shown that no record of such person bearing such name was taken into custody by the wardens officials.
In a terse response from the spokesman of the organisation in Lagos, Mr. Rotimi Oladokun stated, “As at 3/4/2024 there is no record of the named person in our custodial centre.
“Kindly contact the arresting or persecuting agency.”
Justice Savage had ordered that the business man who also is the Chairman of Confidence Cargo, Freight Forwarder, Mr. Dada Aigbe be committed to prison for contempt.
The Judge had on March 11, 2024 ordered that Aigbe be committed to prison for a period of a one month until he purges himself of the contempt.
The judge order was sequel to form 48 and 49 contempt proceeding filed against AIGBE, the application which was filed and moved by Mr. Maruf Babatunde Jimoh-Akogun, counsel to the claimant, the judgment creditor in the suit marked no ID/3831LMW/2016.
The contempt proceeding application was moved on January 18, 2024 by Jimoh-Akogun in a case instituted by the HRM Oba Shakirudeen Adeshina Kuti for themselves and on behalf of the Ajamogun/Onikotun family of Ewu kingdom.
The claimant filed the suit against the Osolo of Osolo, HRM Oba Agbabiaka Kabir Orisedeko Elemo and the Baale Mafoluku Ajao Estate, Chief Hussam Raheem Shekoni Elemo as the first and second defendants respectively.
However, Justice Savage in the enrolment order dated Mach 11, 2024 ordered that, ” Mr Dada Aigbe is hereby committed to Kirikiri Maximum prison for a period of one month or until he purges himself of the contempt of this court and files an affidavit to henceforth not disobeys this court or any court order.”
In order to effect the court order, the Deputy Sheriff of High Court, took a “Request for Police Assistance” form dated March 18, 2024 to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command and the form was received same date.
The Sheriff in the form stated that, “Under the provision of section 11 Sheriff and Civil Procedure Cap 127Laws 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.”
It was gathered that, after the suspect, Aigbe was arrested, by the officers at the NAHCO Airport, they handed over Aigbe to officer in charge of Crack Squad SP Ugowe Joel who released him contrary to order of the court.
When the reporter called officer Joel to confirm whether Aigbe has been handed over to the Kirikiri Maximum prison as ordered by the court, he directed the reporter to come to Police Command as the issue was not a phone conversation.
Upon getting to the command at the fix time, Officer Joel said he was with the Commissioner of Police for over three hours that the reporter waited for him without showing up.
As at the time of this report, the suspect is at his work at NAHCO Airport road in deviant to court order.
When contacted the Lagos Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Correctional Facility, Mr. Oladokun, explained that if the police had brought the suspect in order of court, it will be documented in their office, he said it will be registered.
