Zainab Abioye
Akmode Transport Limited has threatened to institute contempt and defamation proceedings against the Ogun State Government over a press release allegedly describing the company as an “unapproved” motorcycle organisation operating in the state.
The threat was contained in a September 1, 2026 letter by the company’s solicitors, Bolarinwa Odeyale & Co., addressed to the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
The lawyers demanded the immediate withdrawal and public retraction of the August 30 press release, an apology to Akmode and clarification of the government’s position on the company.
According to the solicitors, the publication was inconsistent with a subsisting judgment of the High Court of Ogun State delivered on October 13, 2022, in Suit No. AB/390/2018, Akmode Transport Limited v. Ogun State Government & Ogun State Internal Revenue Service.
They said the court had declared the N300 daily ticket imposed on commercial motorcycle riders, including Akmode’s staff, illegal and unconstitutional and ordered that the company’s staff be taxed annually through the PAYE system.
The lawyers also said the court directed the Ogun State Government, its agents and persons acting on its behalf to give Akmode “due and necessary recognition” as a Nigerian corporate entity and not discriminate against it.
They alleged that the judgment was brought to the attention of relevant government officials at a stakeholders’ meeting on July 14, 2026, where Akmode reportedly presented a Certified True Copy of the judgment to officials of the Ministry of Transportation and the Office of the Special Adviser on Security.
The solicitors therefore questioned why the government would describe the company as “unapproved” barely six weeks after the judgment was presented to its officials.
The lawyers therefore described the subsequent August 30 press release as a “reckless” disregard of the court judgment, arguing that a subsisting judgment could not be overridden by a government directive or press release.
They further alleged that the statement caused reputational damage to Akmode after it was widely published by media organisations, including The Guardian, PUNCH, Daily Independent, Premium Times, Peoples Gazette and Daily Post.
According to the lawyers, the publications portrayed Akmode as an illegal or unauthorised organisation, potentially damaging its business reputation and relationships with members of the public and government institutions.
The company has consequently given the state government 24 hours to retract the statement, issue a public apology, acknowledge the 2022 judgment and cease further publications inconsistent with the court’s decision.
The lawyers warned that failure to comply would lead to steps to enforce the judgment, including possible contempt proceedings against relevant officials, as well as defamation proceedings over the alleged damage to Akmode’s corporate reputation.
The Ogun State Government had not, as of the time of filing this report, responded to the allegations contained in the letter.
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