A Federal High Court, in Lagos has sentenced three Indian brothers to one month imprisonment for contempt of court.
The three Indian brothers, Chandru Ganglani, Bharat Ganglani and Trishul Ganglani are joint owners and directors of Sacvin Nigeria Limited, a plastic wares manufacturing factory in Lagos.
Presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho sentenced the brothers without an option of fine following their conviction for refusing to obey an interim order given by the court on July 9, 2009. The court had granted an interim order restraining Sacvin Nigeria from manufacturing and selling or distributing the plastic products and surrender them to the court.
The court had restrained the company from producing and trading in plastic products with the Sacvin logo, pending the determination of the suit filed by Vik Industries Limited, which alleged that the Indian brothers engaged in the manufacturing and sale of plastic products similar to its own.
The plaintiff said it discovered in June 2009 that Sacvin Nigeria was selling plastic products which were so identical in design to its products.
The plaintiff’s attorney on Monday argued that, the defendant disobeyed the court order and continued to manufacture, import, supply, sell and distribute the plastic products, hence the contempt of court.
It further argued that it was experiencing difficulties in sales and incurring serious financial loss on daily basis, as a result of the defendants’ company’s infringement.
In his ruling, Justice Tsoho in his ruling noted that the foreigners won’t be given an option of fine on the ground that “it will make a mockery of the judicial system”.
He adjourned the case to April 20 for further substantive hearing.
