14-Day Deadline: Judge Warns Mahmood Y To Rectify Contempt Of Court

Justice Mohammed Madugu issued the directive as part of a judgment in a committal proceeding (Form 49) derived from a motion on notice labeled FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This motion was filed against Oye and Mahmood by Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan (the National Vice Chairman of the South West Geopolitical Zone of APGA) and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha (the National Welfare Officer of APGA).

both of whom are members of APGA’s National Working Committee elected at the APGA Owerri Convention on May 31, 2019, under the leadership of APGA’s National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku.

The petitioners are seeking the court’s intervention to have the INEC Chairman and Oye incarcerated for failing to comply with a valid court order issued on May 10.

This order had restrained Oye and APGA from conducting Ward, Local Government, State Congresses, and a Convention.

The motion on behalf of the APGA officials was submitted by Michael Ajara and Panam Ntui.

On May 10, 2023, Justice Madugu had directed the INEC Chairman and Oye, who were parties to the suit, “to maintain the status quo ante bellum” until the hearing of the notice of preliminary objection filed on May 9, 2023, by the 1st Defendant/Applicant (Oye).

However, Oye had disregarded the unambiguous instructions of the court and proceeded to conduct the Congresses under the supervision of INEC later in May.

In his judgment, Justice Madugu determined that, since no appeal had been made regarding the order issued on May 10, the INEC Chairman and Oye were “in contempt of court.”

“A court order is not issued in vain; it must be adhered to. Disregarding a valid court order undermines the court’s integrity and sanctity,” Justice Madugu declared.

“This disregard for court orders must cease and cannot be allowed to continue. The failure to adhere to the order issued by this court on May 10 is unquestionably a challenge to the court’s sanctity.”