Contempt: Court debunks signing Form 48 against INEC, 3 others

 

A Federal High Court, Abuja, has denied signing Form 48 against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some of its principals.

This was contained in a letter from the Hon. Judge, Chamber, Justice E. Enenche and signed by the Principal Registrar 1 Shehu Suleiman.

The letter was dated 8th August 2023, with Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/174/2022, and titled Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu vs Kenneth Udeze, Action Alliance (AA), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Form 48 S.C.P.A (ORDER IX, RULE 13).

The letter reads, “Notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court filed on the 3rd day of August 2023 and signed on the 7th day of August 2023.

“I am directed by his Lordship to inform your Authority that the above form was not signed by the registrar of this Court or emanated thereof from this Court.

“And note also that no request, letter, or order in respect of this suit with appeal No. Ca/AbJ/526/2022 shall be treated as authentic except from the order of the court of appeal or otherwise by the registrar of this court. (After the decision before the court of appeal therein).”

Kenneth Udeze, a factional chairman of the AA, had brandished an order purportedly signed by the court and threatened to initiate legal action against the INEC if the commission fails to obey court orders.

He had alleged that he approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to obtain Form 48 against INEC and its chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu.

He also joined the INEC director in charge of political party monitoring and liaison, Mr Aminu Idris, and the director in charge of litigation and prosecution, Dr Tanimu Mohammed, in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/174/2022.

The Form 48 Udeze possessed, which the FCT Court has denied signing, reads, “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison for contempt of court.”

Udeze, who claimed to be the national chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), had since been suspended and subsequently expelled from the party by the National Think Thank Committee for various offences.

INEC recently recognised Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the authentic national chairman of the Action Alliance.