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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Federal High Court Lagos, has granted leave to the claimants in a pending suit to serve court processes on a senior police officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Taofeek Tijani, through substituted means in connection with contempt proceedings.
Justice A. O. Owoeye, who presided over the matter, ruled that the court processes should be served on CSP Tijani through the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone II Command, or the Legal Unit of Zone II Command, Onikan, Lagos.
The order followed an application by the claimants, who alleged that the police officer disobeyed a subsisting judgment of the court.
The claimants in the suit are High Chief Shakiru Adams, Chiefs Abu Lawal Bankole, Ibrahim Sanni and Kamoru Oluwole Bakare.
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The respondents are the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone II, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CSP Taofeek Tijani, Inspector Ajakaye, Alhaja Sherifat Abolarinwa and Habeeb Abolarinwa.
As part of the contempt proceedings, Justice Owoeye directed the court bailiff to serve Form 49 on CSP Tijani, requiring him to appear before the court and show cause why he should not be committed to prison for allegedly disobeying the court’s judgment in Suit No. FHC/CS/1003/24, High Chief Shakiru Adams v. Inspector-General of Police & Others.
The court held that substituted service through official police channels was appropriate and ordered that the documents be delivered via the AIG’s office or the Legal Unit of Zone II Command.
The contempt application stems from the court’s judgment delivered on July 24, 2025, in which Justice Owoeye restrained the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone II Command, and CSP Tijani from arresting or prosecuting the judgment creditors and any other persons over the disputed matter pending the final determination of the land suit, No. ID/1450LMW/2023, before Justice Savage of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
The case has been adjourned until July 13, 2026, for a report on service to enable the court ascertain compliance with its order before further proceedings in the contempt application.
