Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday
jailed an American for operating her mobile phone in court, the Nation newspaper reports.
Megan
Chapman, Co – Executive Director, Community Legal Support Initiative
was locked up by the judge at the court’s waiting cell for about 10
minutes, after an angry Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia walked her out.
The
American who was seated at the last bench, directly facing the judge,
did not know that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was noticing her ‘romance’
with her phone.
Having asked her to leave the court, Justice
Ofili-Ajumogobia directed her support staff to escort the American to
the waiting cell, where she stayed for about 20 minutes.
She later ordered her release following appeals from lawyers in court.
Confirming the incident, Chapman said she has learnt her lessons, adding that her action was not intentional.
She
said: “I was replying an urgent message. It was not like I
intentionally disrespected the court but I have learnt my lessons. I
have apologised to the court for my action.
“The prison officers were kind to and treated me well in the short period I was there.”
Asked
what brought her to court, Chapman said she came in respect of a
fundamental rights suit her group filed against the Ojora of Lagos,
Chief Abdul Fatai Aromire.
The case marked FHC/L/CS/346 was
instituted by the NGO on behalf of residents of Badia East in
Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, who were not parties nor represented in suit
LD/443/2002 decided by the Supreme Court.
The affected residents
have allegedly been terrorised and threatened with demolition by Chief
Aromire, who they claimed brandishes the Apex Court judgment to extort
money from or dispossess them of their lands.