The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has been accused of habitually disobeying court orders.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja, who made this known on Friday, decried the practice of the electoral umpire towards valid judgements of the court.
The judge told the INEC’s lawyers to properly counsel the commission and its leadership.
Justice Egwuatu made the remarks, shortly after he declined jurisdiction in a contempt proceedings initiated against the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN.
The court had last week adjourned to March 10, so that Amupitan can appear before it to answer contempt charge, in respect of an order regarding the leadership of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
The adjournment was sequel to a request by INEC’s counsel, Muktar Bawa, who had assured that Amupitan would physically appear in court to purge himself of contempt charges against him.
The court however failed to sit on March 10, and the matter adjourned to March 13.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that Amupitan was absent when the matter was called in court just as his team of lawyers led by Suleiman Ibrahim, SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
The lawyers premised their challenge on the grounds that the alleged contempt was not committed in the face of the court.
He therefore asked the court to decline jurisdiction, a request which was opposed by counsel to NRM, Oladimeji Ekengba, who told the court to sanction the alleged contemnor in his absence.
He said contrary to the submission of INEC’s lawyer, civil contempt is different from criminal contempt, adding that, “this is a case of disobedience of court order not an action personal to the judge.”
Justice Egwuatu refused to decline the jurisdiction and ordered the return of the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to another judge, who would now try the INEC boss on alleged disobedience of the order of the court.
Justice Egwuatu had in a judgment delivered on March 5, 2025 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/45/2025, ordered INEC to recognise the Edozie Njoku-led committee as the national leadership of the NRM.
