Judiciary

Court okays contempt charge against Health Minister over alleged disobedience

 

The National Industrial Court (NICN) in Abuja has ordered the service of a contempt charge against the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, over alleged failure to comply with a court judgment.

Also listed in the notice of consequences for disobedience of a valid court order (Form 48) is the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka.

The contempt proceedings, marked NICN/ABJ/23M/2026, were initiated by Prof. Monday Igwe, who was reinstated as Medical Director of the hospital following a court judgment delivered on December 11, 2025.

In the earlier ruling, Justice Emmanuel Subilim declared the termination of Igwe’s appointment unlawful, null, and void, holding that due process was not followed.

“The procedure adopted for the purported termination… was arbitrary, illegal, and a fundamental breach of the mandatory statutory provisions,” the judge ruled.

The court also ordered that Igwe be paid all outstanding emoluments from September 2023 up to the date of judgment.

According to the judgment, the claimant still had about three years and five months left in his tenure at the time of the termination.

The defendants in the substantive suit include the Coordinating Minister of Health, the Minister of State for Health, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Attorney General of the Federation, and other relevant officials.

Olayinka Babatunde

Recent Posts

2027: NBC Warns Broadcasters, Bloggers Against Misinformation, Hate Speech

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other participants in…

4 hours ago

Tinubu directs EFCC-recovered funds, unclaimed dividends to student loan scheme

President Bola Tinubu has directed that liquid funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes…

4 hours ago

Tinubu Appoints Abel Enitan as New Head of Civil Service

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service…

4 hours ago

Osun: Suspected Thugs Attack Adeleke’s Convoy After Palace Visit

Suspected thugs on Wednesday attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, shortly after…

5 hours ago

Tinubu presides over FEC meeting

President Bola Tinubu is presiding over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the…

5 hours ago

Wike to Kingibe: You’ve Failed, Electoral Defeat Awaits You

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has launched another attack on Senator Ireti Kingibe,…

8 hours ago