An Ogun State High Court sitting in Igbesa area of the State, has ordered prompt detainment of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone II Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos and Superintendent Tijani Taofiq for disobeying the order of the Court.

The Police officers had disobeyed the court order to pay N500,000 as damages and also pay N50,000 in favour of a case involving a Chinese national, Chen Zheng who was arrested and detained for alleged criminal offence and later held his international passport. 

Zheng is the Interpreter and Sales Manager of Hand in Hand Industry Nigeria Limited. 

Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora ordered that the top officers be detained at the Ibara Correctional Centre, Abeokuta until the property of the Chinese man is returned back to him.

The Judge had ordered the release of the applicant's international passport with No.EB4555829 since June 9th, 2020.

The Judge said that the refusal to release the passport and also pay the fine as ordered by the court was a contempt which is punishable under the Nigeria Constitution.

In his final judgement, Justice Ogunfowora ordered that the officers be kept in custody until the international passport is released.

Speaking with journalists after the judgement, the counsel to the applicant, Seun Akinbiyi, SAN, commended the court for its upright pronouncement.

Akinbiyi added that such judgement will make people believe in the judicial system as the last hope of the common man.

"The summary of the antecedent is that, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 as well as on Superintendent of Police, Tijani Taofiq, who is now in Eleweran, Abeokuta have been convicted to prison by virtue of the order of the court because they did not carry out the order of the Court.

"It is very significant that this is being done for the courage of the court, his lordship, and it is good for the sanctity of the court. We are very happy for that.

"It is also important for the sake of our client whose international passport has been detained for almost 3 years. At least, I believe that with that alone, the court has decided that they are imprisoned until the international passport is released."

The Senior Advocate added that his chamber will see to the implementation of the judgement to the core.

"By the grace of God, we are going to see it that the order is carried out. That is, the imprisonment of the AIG and the Superintendent. We will see it to the end."

The Chinese national, however, expressed his worry over the case which has dragged for over 2 years, adding that that he won the case was appreciated. 

Zheng said, "I just want to say I win the case. Superintendent of Police, Tijani Taofiq refused to return my international passport since 2020. I am not happy with it."