A representative of Controller of Correctional Centre, Lagos State Command, Mr Rotimi Oladokun, has told an Ikeja High Court that the command did not receive a warrant for commital of the Chairman of Confidence Cargo Freight Forwarder, Dada Aigbe.

Aigbe was committed to a month in prison for contempt of court.

Oladokun, from the Legal Unit of the command in Ikoyi, told the court that the five custodial facilities in Lagos, including Kirikiri maximum or medium facilities had no record or remand warrant of Aigbe.

He said he was in court sequel to a subpoena served on the controller on the order of the court.

Oladokun told the court that he joined the correctional service in 2012 and had been serving in Lagos State Command.

“At the directive of the command, I was briefed about the matter.

“From our record, the command did not receive a committal or remand warrant.

“We have verified from our internal communication. There was no record of Dada Aigbe,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Akintunde Savage had on April 25 subpoenaed the controller over his non-adherence and non-appearance regarding a hearing notice issued by the court to him.

The notice is aimed making him to disclose whether or not Aigbe is in a custodial facility in Lagos State.

Salvage had, on March 11, ordered that Aigbe be committed to prison for a period of one month for contempt of court.

The order was sequel to failure of Aigbe to appear in court after Form 48 and Form 49 (about contempt charge) were filed against him.

The contempt proceedings were sequel to a suit filed by the Mr Maruf Jimoh-Akogun, counsel to a judgment creditor.

Jimoh-Akogun, had in the suit marked ID/3831LMW/2016 said the case was instituted by Oba Shakirudeen Adeshina Kuti for himself and on behalf of the Ajamogun/Onikotun Family of Ewu Kingdom.

The claimant filed the suit against the Osolo of Osolo, Oba Agbabiaka Kabir, Orisedeko Elemo and the Baale Mafoluku of Ajao Estate, Chief Hussam Raheem Shekoni Elemo, as the first and second defendants, respectively

Counsel to the judgment debtors/ respondents Mr K. U Okoro, had filed an application dated April 29 and moved a motion to set aside the entire committal proceedings on the ground that it was served by an unknown sheriff and was not served on the applicant.

Okoro added that the court did not have jurisdiction to give the order.

“We urge the court to set aside the order and rule in our favour and grant our relief,” he said.

The judge, however, held that he had read the objection and its counter, and if he was not convinced that it was served, he would not have issued the conviction.

Jimoh-Akogun, in his counter-affidavit had opposed the objection and told court that the reason for Aigbe’s committal to prison was the complaint that he involved himself in a land matter that he was not a party to.

He said the court had ordered that status quo be maintained but Aigbe continued building on the land in dispute.

He added that the family’s land on Airport Road, Ewu Town, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, was invaded by Aigbe and his agents.

The counsel argued that the court had on April 2, heard how Aigbe was served by the sheriff of the high court, Mr Michael Alogaga, who was also subpoenaed.

He said: “My lord, there is evidence of service before the court, and the service was effected outside the jurisdiction.

“The service of form 49 was effected in Abuja, and it was not denied but we are saying that the bailiff that served the contemnor is a competent person.

“We humbly pray the court to dismiss the preliminary objection with a punitive cost because the correctional official and the court sheriff have testified that the convict is not in prison and the counsel is asking the court to purge him of contempt,” he said

Savage adjourned the case until June 17 for ruling. (NAN)

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