Contempt proceedings against Secondus, others March 12

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Monday fixed March 12, 2020, to hear a contempt allegation against the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Justice Taofikat Oyekan-Abdullahi, on December 5, 2019, ordered Secondus, Senator Ben Obi and other NWC members, to show cause why an order for committal should not be made against them.

The judge’s order followed an application by four claimants: Dr Adegbola Dominic, for state chairman of the party; Elder John Babatunde Agbaje, Alhaji Fatai Ajisefinni and Chief Taiwo Kuye.

The claimants alleged that Secondus, Obi and the other defendants disobeyed the court’s order of November 12, 2019, which restrained them from conducting a special election for the vacant offices in the Lagos State chapter of the party.

They claimed that the PDP conducted the “illegal” election, despite having foreknowledge about the case and pending application for interlocutory injunction.

The special election committee was chaired by Senator Obi at the instance of Secondus, they claimed.

The other defendants are: the PDP, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Danladi Baidu Tijo, Ahmed M. Mukthar and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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At the commencement of yesterday’s proceedings, Francis Akinlotan appeared as counsel for all the claimants, while Emmanuel Enoidem and Wendy Kuku appeared for the respondents.

Akinlotan informed the court of his clients’ pending applications seeking an extension of time to file their written addresses and reply to the respondents’ preliminary objection.

He sought leave of court to move the applications.

Enoidem, for the first to sixth respondents, and Kuku, for INEC (the seventh respondent), did not oppose the prayer.

The judge granted his prayer.

Akinlotan recalled that last Friday, the contemnors served him an affidavit on their response to the contempt proceedings but that he had not replied.