Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu yesterday failed to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja to show reasons why he should not be committed to prison.
At the last adjourned date, Justice Stephen Daly Pop Pam gave the order following the dismissal of the preliminary objection filed by the INEC Chairman challenging the contempt suit brought against him and others by Ejike Oguebego of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State.
The contemptor said the objection filed by the plaintiff was an abuse of court process.
Also the Supreme Court had directed INEC never to recognise any other list, except the one submitted by the plaintiff, which the contemptor refused to adhere to.
Justice Pam, in his ruling on July 5, said the contemptors have failed to place evidence that the plaintiff’s tenure of office had expired.
At the resume of hearing yesterday, INEC counsel Chief Adeboyega Awomolo (SAN) applied for an adjournment to enable him respond to the application filed by counsel to the applicant, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), to show cause why the contemptor was absent from court.
“I will be asking your lordship for an adjournment to enable me respond,” Awomolo held.
He also added that he had filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal against the ruling delivered at the last adjourned date.
According to him, he was yet to be served by the applicant that the matter be heard during vacation.
But, Uche opposed the application for an adjournment, urging the court to proceed with the hearing of the matter
ustice Pam said the fiat issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to hear the matter during vacation was subsisting and that the court would continue to sit during vacation.
The trial judge told counsel to advise their clients not to disobey orders of court.
“The contemptor cannot ask favours from the court while he continues to disregard orders of court,” Justice Pam held.
The judge adjourned the matter till August 1 to enable the contemptor appear before the court in person to show cause why he shouldn’t be committed to prison.
