By Ugochukwu Alaribe
ABA—AN Abia State High Court sitting at Osisioma Ngwa , has ordered service of contempt processes on Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi, Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Abayi Police Division and the Divisional Traffic Officer, DTO, Mr. Aneke Celestine, over failure to release a truck to a company, Unik D Limited.
In suit No: HoS /87M/2017, between Silas Obioma and Unik D Limited (applicants); and Commissioner of Police, Divisional Police Officer, Abayi Police Station and Divisional traffic Officer, Abayi Police Station, Aneke Celestine ( respondents), Justice K. O. Wosu, sitting at High Court 2, Osisioma Ngwa, yesterday directed the counsel to the applicants, C.K. Anyanwu to serve a notice to show cause why order of attachment should not be made (Form 49) on the respondents.
Counsel to the applicants, Anyanwu, informed the court that the respondents had refused to comply with the order of court to release the truck to the owner, even as he showed proof of service of a notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court (Form 48) on them, to the court.
Anyanwu maintained that as a law enforcement agency, the Police should not be seen disobeying an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
He noted that the former Judge of High Court 2, Osisioma Ngwa, Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu, who has been transferred to another division, had on 2nd November, 2017, ordered the Commissioner of Police, DPO and the DTO, to release the Mack truck with number plate, UNC 321 XA, to the 2nd applicant, Unik D limited.
However, the Police were not represented at the court.
Contacted, Commissioner of Police, Abia State, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi said he was not aware of the order of the court, stressing that the matter was still pending at the magistrate court. He however, assured that the Police would not disobey a lawful order from a court.
