The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a contempt charge seeking the committal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, to prison over alleged disobedience of a court order.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the suit on Tuesday, citing the failure of the applicant, Edozie Njoku, to diligently prosecute the case in line with legal requirements.
Njoku, who claims to be the National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), had filed a Form 48 seeking to have the INEC chairman committed to Kuje Correctional Centre for allegedly refusing to monitor the party’s convention.
But the court found that Njoku failed to personally serve the committal papers on the INEC chairman, which it said is a mandatory requirement in contempt proceedings.
In the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that it was not the responsibility of the court to help litigants serve processes. She emphasized that contempt proceedings, being quasi-criminal in nature, demand strict compliance with due process, including personal service on the alleged contemnor.
She said the applicant’s failure to meet that obligation rendered the application incompetent, adding that the court had no option but to strike it out.
The case was connected to an earlier order reportedly issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, directing INEC to monitor the party’s convention. However, the court noted that the order could not be implemented because a parallel convention had already been held.
Reacting to the judgment, the National Chairman of the NRM, Chinedu Obi, commended the court for striking out the suit. He maintained that Njoku is not a member of the party and accused him of trying to take over its leadership.
Obi, who spoke alongside the party’s National Secretary, Hassan Aminu Ibrahim, and National Legal Adviser, Musa Isiaka, urged party members nationwide to remain committed.
He added that the court’s decision has cleared the way for the party’s effective participation in the 2027 general elections.
