The Akwa Ibom State High Court, Abak Judicial Division has sent a Police Woman, Mrs. Juliet Attah to a three- month imprisonment at Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, without option of fine.
Mrs Attah incurred the wrath of the court for failing produce in court a tricycle she seized from Mr. Elijah Alphonsus Akpan in 2024.
The Court gave the ruling following the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by tricyclist, Mr. Akpan against Mrs. Attah, who is attached to Abak Divisional Police Station.
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The ruling came as a result of a motion on notice filed by the applicant on 12th March, 2025 after hearing his counsel, Victor Nkanang, praying the Court for an order committing the contemnor to the Custodial Centre for disobedience to the Order of Court made on 18th day of November, 2024 and another made on 24th of February, 2025, with the Counsel for the Respondents, Blessing Philip, Esquire, opposing the motion.
The particulars of the case show that the Court had on 18th November, 2024 made an order directing Mrs. Juliet Attah to produce before the Court, the tricycle with Identification Mark AFK 854 WX which was seized from the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The order was to be complied with within seven days, but upon the receipt of the order, the contemnor is said to have refused to obey the order and continued to hold unto the tricycle.
Counsel for the Applicant, Victor Nkanang, told the Court that he addressed a letter to the contemnor attaching the order of the Court, but rather than complied with the order, the policewoman led policemen to the applicant’s residence in an attempt to arrest him, but did not find him at home.
The Applicant’s Counsel also told the Court that he issued Form 48, giving the contemnor notice of disobedience to the order of the Court and opportunity for her to retrace her steps, but the Policewoman remained adamant.
Joined in the suit as respondents were one Victor Dickson Okon; Chief Uwemedimo Usoroh, Engr. Ephraim Asifa, Mr. Vincent Williams of the Department of State Security, DSS, Uyo, one Inspector Sonny attached to State CID, Uyo, the Director of State Security Service, Uyo and the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State.
The Court presided over by Justice Eno Isangedighi had given order on 24 February, 2025 directing the Divisional Police Officer, Abak to produce the contemnor and show cause why she should not be committed for contempt, but the order was again treated with disdain, as both the Divisional Police Officer and the contemnor were absent from the Court on the return date, 3rd March 2025.
Justice Isangedighi found merit in the motion and held that Mrs. Juliet Attah was in deliberate disobedience of a lawful and subsisting order of the Court, which has inherent powers to punish an offender for any act that affects its dignity in the administration of justice.
The Justice directed “the Director of the Court to send a Certified True Copy of the order to the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State to enforce compliance and that the Notice of the committal shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police.”
Meanwhile, the Court has adjourned the substantive case to Monday, 2 June, 2025 for adoption of briefs.
