Physically challenged persons block Lagos court over judgment execution

Commuters and motorists in the Ikeja area of Lagos were held in traffic on Wednesday for several hours after some physically challenged persons blocked the Oba Akinjobi Way during a protest against the Lagos State High Court.

Efforts by traffic wardens and policemen from the Area ‘F’ Command, Ikeja, to pacify the men and women were abortive, as they insisted on not leaving the road until their demand for the payment of a judgment sum was met.

Punch gathered that a member of the group, Patrick Aroeze, had in 2008 invited the now defunct music group, Psquare (Peter and Paul Okoye), for a show in Benin, Edo State.

Aroeze, who was a show promoter at the time, said the artistes breached the contract by not showing up for the event.

He said he sued for damages and the High Court awarded him the sum of N8.9m.

Aroeze said for about four years, the court had been making excuses on why he could not get the money.

Punch observed that some members of the group held a banner requesting the help of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

A physically challenged woman, who was with Aroeze, Kehinde Omobolanle, said they would not leave the road until the money was paid.

A police officer with the tag, Sadiq Yusuf, later prevailed on the group, saying the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had agreed to meet with them and listen to their grievances at the command headquarters.

The Chief Registrar of the state High Court, D. T. Oladokun, confirmed that Aroeze got judgment against Psquare in 2016.

She explained that during the execution of the judgment, the court bailiffs were attacked by thugs on the premises of the artistes.

Oladokun noted that the cheque issued was ‘altered,’ adding that for a long time, Aroeze could not be found, because he travelled for medical treatment.

She stated that he was later advised to go for re-execution. Punch