A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has fixed July 28, 2026, for judgment in a contempt proceeding filed against the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, and 17 other senior police officers over alleged disobedience of court orders.

Also named in the committal proceedings are the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department, CSP Gladys Ekpakuemu Imegu, and other senior officers of the Delta State Police Command.

Justice G.B. Briki-Okolosi fixed the date after hearing arguments from both parties and rejecting an application for adjournment filed by counsel to the respondents, Dr R.O. Ishiguzo, who appeared alongside D.C. Patrick.

The judge expressed displeasure over what he described as repeated attempts by the respondents to delay the proceedings through successive applications for adjournment.

“Adjournments are not granted as a matter of course but at the discretion of the court. The respondents have failed to demonstrate why another adjournment should be granted, particularly when their present position conflicts with submissions made on the previous adjourned date,” Justice Briki-Okolosi ruled.

The court subsequently upheld the objection raised by the applicants’ counsel, Ejike Efobi, and directed him to proceed with the matter.

The contempt proceedings, filed through Forms 48 and 49, were initiated by members of the Sand Dealers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, based at Zion Land, Ogbeofu Beach, Cable Point, Asaba.

The applicants are seeking an order committing the police officers to prison for allegedly disobeying earlier court orders restraining them from arresting members of the cooperative and interfering with their sand dredging activities at designated sites, including Ogbeofu Beach.

The cooperative further alleged that the police command failed to comply with a court order directing the Commissioner of Police to deploy mobile policemen to protect the disputed dredging sites covered by a writ of possession in suit marked FHC/B/CE/127/2000 involving Mr Kutty O.C. Essumai and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, pending the determination of a substantive application for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.

Among the officers listed in the committal proceedings are ASP Denis Otunyo, Godwin Uangbaoje, ASP Akinyemi Apu, CSP Muhammad Balarabe Ibrahim, ASP Moses Davis, Inspectors Chiefu Eboagwu, Monday Imala, Monday Adebamen, and the Area Commander, Asaba, Alex Udenze.

The dispute centres on a long-running conflict over sand dredging rights along the Asaba axis of the River Niger creek, which has reportedly resulted in violence and fatalities.

Leaders of the cooperative, including David Opene (popularly known as Jah Dave), Kutty Essumai and Raymond Adams, accused the Delta State Police Command of refusing to arrest and prosecute officials and other persons linked to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, over alleged disruption of their operations.

They further alleged that instead of providing protection as ordered by the court in suit marked FHC/B/CS/287/2003, the police arrested, detained and prosecuted members of the cooperative while shielding those allegedly responsible for violent attacks on their dredging sites.

The applicants also claimed that four members of the cooperative were killed during the attacks and that suspects linked to the incidents had not been prosecuted.

They further alleged that despite directives reportedly issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police, through the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, ordering the re-arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attacks and killings, the Delta State Police Command failed to act.

During the proceedings, counsel to the respondents argued that the contempt action should be dismissed on the grounds that there was no evidence that CP Oyeniyi and the other respondents were personally served with Forms 48 and 49.

However, counsel to the applicants, Mr Efobi, argued that there was no evidence before the court to suggest that the processes, which were served in accordance with previous court orders, did not reach the respondents.

He urged the court to dismiss the objections raised by the respondents and grant the reliefs sought by the applicants, including their committal to prison for alleged disobedience of valid court orders.

Justice Briki-Okolosi subsequently reserved judgment until July 28, 2026.