JUST IN: INEC Chairman Ordered to Appear in Court Over Contempt Charge
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission to appear before it on March 10 over an alleged contempt of court charge filed by the National Rescue Mission (NRM).
The directive was issued on Wednesday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu after lawyers informed the court that the INEC Chairman was absent from proceedings.
Counsel to INEC, Mr. M. S. Bawa, requested an adjournment, explaining that the Commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, was unable to attend due to an emergency.
He also told the court that a counter-affidavit had been filed to challenge the contempt charge and seek its dismissal.
However, counsel to the NRM, Mr. Oladimeji Ekengba, opposed the development and questioned the absence of the INEC boss in court.
“My Lord, this is a contempt charge that requires the defendant to be present in the dock while the proceedings are ongoing. We wonder why he is not here today.”
Justice Egwuatu subsequently ordered that a fresh hearing notice be served personally on the INEC Chairman. The court had earlier approved substituted service of Form 48, which warns of the consequences of disobeying a court order. The notice was to be delivered to any staff member at INEC’s national headquarters.
The contempt charge arose from a judgment delivered on March 5, 2025. In that ruling, the court directed INEC to recognize the outcome of an emergency convention conducted by the NRM on January 17, 2025.
According to the party, the convention produced a new leadership led by Chief Edozie Njoku and was convened to address leadership vacancies and internal imbalances within its National Executive Committee.
The NRM accused INEC of deliberately ignoring the court’s decision despite being fully aware of the judgment and having been served with the enrolled order.
Party officials were present in court on Wednesday, led by Chief Njoku himself.
After the adjournment, Njoku expressed confidence that the INEC Chairman would eventually obey the court order and formally acknowledge the party’s leadership.
He said the matter was about respect for the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.
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