The Managing Director of Dove International Business Services Ltd., Mrs. Sholaide Emmanuel, has appealed to the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to intervene urgently, to see to the payment of the judgment debt in the case of breach of contract perpetrated by the Ogun State Government against her company. The appeal is sequel to the judgment of the High Court of Ogun State, delivered in her favour by the Honourable Justice P.F. Oduniyi, directing the government to return all her machines and equiptments to her and to pay her ten million naira as damages.

Dove International had entered into an agreement with the government of Ogun State, to set up an ultra modern restaurant in the State Secretariat to cater for civil servants and provide them quality food at rates to be subsidized by the government. Heavy investment was made in this regard, running into several millions of naira, to set up the restaurant, a contract having been executed by the government, to last thirty years in the first instance. It was just suddenly that the Ogun State Government claimed to cancel the contract without notice to her and to seize the building complex housing the restaurant, confiscating all the machines and equipments therein and destroying others.

Unable to bear the loss and the attendant financial burdens, Dove International approached the High Court in Abeokuta seeking damages for breach of contract and specific performance, against the government. After a long trial, the Court delivered judgment in favour of the company on 20th February, 2018, holding the government liable for breach of contract. The court also directed that all her machines and equipment be returned to her immediately and further awarded damages for breach of contract. Although the government has not appealed against the judgment of the court, yet it has refused to comply with the terms of the said judgment, despite several letters and reminders written to that effect.

Under and by virtue of section 287 of the 1999 Constitution, all persons and authorities have a duty to obey the judgment of court. It is the government that should show good example of obedience to the rule of law and demonstrate respect for due process of law. This appeal has become necessary to seek the urgent and immediate intervention of the Governor to see to it that the judgment of the court is obeyed and complied with.