Contempt Charge: Court Summons INEC Chairman to Appear March 10

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, to appear before it on March 10 to answer to a contempt charge filed by the National Rescue Mission (NRM).

Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after counsel to INEC, Mr. M.S. Bawa, sought an adjournment to enable him to secure the appearance of the commission’s chairman. Bawa told the court that Prof. Amupitan was unable to attend due to an emergency.

The INEC lawyer also disclosed that a counter-affidavit had been filed challenging the competence of the contempt proceedings and seeking to have the charge quashed.

Counsel to the NRM, Mr. Oladimeji Ekengba, had drawn the court’s attention to the absence of the INEC Chairman, insisting that his presence was mandatory in a contempt matter.

“My Lord, this is a contempt charge that requires the defendant to be present in the dock while the proceedings are ongoing. We wonder why he is not here today,” Ekengba said.

Before adjourning the case, Justice Egwuatu directed that a fresh hearing notice be served on the INEC Chairman. The court had earlier granted an order for substituted service of the contempt charge, directing that Form 48—a notice of the consequences of disobeying a court order—be served on him through any staff member at INEC’s national headquarters.

The contempt proceedings stem from an alleged failure by INEC to comply with a mandamus order issued on March 5, 2025, which directed the commission to recognise the outcome of the NRM’s emergency convention held on January 17, 2025. The convention produced executives led by Chief Edozie Njoku.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, the NRM alleged that INEC, despite being aware of the judgment and duly served with the enrolled order, had refused to comply. The party argued that the issuance of Form 48 was necessary to compel obedience to the court’s directive.

NRM national officers, led by Chief Njoku, were present in court. Speaking with journalists after the adjournment, Njoku expressed optimism that the INEC Chairman would comply with the judgment and formally recognise the party’s leadership.