Metro

APGA Dispute: Court Okays Contempt Charge Against INEC Chairman

Published

2 years ago

November 12, 2023

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Bwari, has okayed a contempt proceeding that was initiated against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, over his alleged disobedience to a subsisting court judgement.

Justice Mohammed Madugu gave the INEC boss 14 days to comply with the judgement that recognised Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, or risk jail.

Equally cited as a Respondent in the committal proceeding (Form 49) marked FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023, is a factional Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Oye.

It was two aggrieved chieftains of the party, Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan (the National Vice Chairman, South West Geopolitical Zone of APGA) and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha (the National Welfare Officer of APGA), who initiated the court action.

The Applicants told the court that they are members of the National Working Committee of APGA who emerged at a convention the party held on May 31, 2019, under the leadership of Chief Njoku.

Justice Madugu, in his judgement, held that from the totality of affidavit evidence that was adduced before him, both the INEC Chairman and Chief Oye were found to have disobeyed a valid court order concerning APGA leadership, saying he was however minded to grant them a 14-day grace period to purge themselves of the said contempt of court.

Specifically, the Applicants had in the committal charge, sought an order of the court to commit Prof. Yakubu to prison for spurning a valid order the court made on May 10, which had restrained Oye and APGA from conducting Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and Convention.

The court had directed the INEC Chairman and Chief Oye, who were joined as parties in the case, “to maintain status quo ante bellum,” pending the hearing of a notice of preliminary objection that was filed before it.

“For the avoidance of doubt and the purpose of clarity, parties herein whether by themselves, agents, privies, assigns, authorized representatives or whosoever acting on their behalf are restrained from holding the planned Congresses, National Convention or any other meetings or gatherings in whatever name called of APGA, pending the hearing of notice of preliminary objection filed on May 9, 2023 by the 1st Defendant/Applicant, Chief Oye,” Justice Madugu added.

However, despite the order, the Chief Oye-led faction of the party went ahead and conducted the Congresses under the supervision of INEC.

They subsequently submitted names of candidates for various elective positions, which were accepted by INEC.

Dissatisfied with the development, the Applicants initiated the contempt charge.

In his judgement last Thursday, a copy of which Vanguard obtained on Sunday, Justice Madugu held that because the order the court made on May 10 was not appealed, the INEC Chairman and Oye, “were in contempt of court”.

“A court does not make an order in vain; a court order must be disobeyed. Disobedience to a valid court order undermines the integrity and sanctity of the court.

“This insanity of flouting court order must stop, and it cannot continue. The disobedience to the order made by this court on May 10, is undoubtedly an affront to the sanctity of the court” Justice Madugu stated.

Consequently, he ordered the 1st Respondent (Oye) and 2nd Respondent (INEC Chairman) to purge themselves of contempt of court within 14 days or face the full wrath of the court.

The court held that Oye’s submission that APGA conducted the Congresses based on the May 12 order of an Anambra State High Court at Otuocha, was not tenable.

Justice Madugu queried if the order of the Anambra State High Court was capable of overriding that of an Abuja High Court made on May 10, noting that both courts are of the same coordinate jurisdiction.

The judge noted that the Respondents had the opportunity to appeal against the court order, but failed to do so.

“Placing reliance on the order of an Anambra High Court, made on May 12, does not absolve the Respondents from the dire consequences of the commital charge,” Justice Madugu held.

Metro

Hotel Under Construction Collapses In Edo Kills Owner

Published

14 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in the Idumoza community, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, as a hotel building under construction caved in, killing its owner, identified as Andrew Isesere.

The incident occurred last Friday while Isesere was reportedly inside the building.

Over 20 workers who were also at the site narrowly escaped death, according to eyewitnesses.

The lifeless body of the owner was recovered from the debris on Sunday morning.

Neighbours in the area expressed concern over the quality of materials used in the construction, noting that warnings had previously been issued to the deceased.

Andrew Inegbebor, a resident who spoke to reporters, said, “The owner was told he was using low quality material. He used 12mm instead of 16mm rods for the pillars. There was no base basket at the pillars. Look at the result.”

“The building collapsed because of substandard materials that were used. There was no engineer on site. The dead owner supervised the house. The house later collapsed and killed him , but some workers escaped,” he added.

At the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said that he had not received a briefing on the incident.

Metro

Police Arrest Stolen Phone Tracker-altering Gang In Imo

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

The Imo State Police Command has dismantled a cult gang that specialised in phone theft, burglary, and altering the tracking device of phones in Eziobodo, in the Owerri West Local Government Area.

This is even as the Command has arrested several people linked to various phone robberies within the Owerri federal constituency.

Police spokesperson for Imo State command, DSP Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Saturday morning.

Okoye disclosed that following a complaint by a phone dealer whose shop was burgled on July 11th, 2025, within Eziobodo, operatives of the Anti-Vice commenced an investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect with four brand new but stolen phones.

Intense investigation led the Police to the principal burglar behind the robbery and another accomplice who specialised in altering phone IMEI, which blocks the tracking of such phones.

Okoye said, “Following a complaint by a phone dealer whose shop in Eziobodo was burgled on 11th July 2025, operatives of the Anti-Vice Unit arrested a suspect in possession of four brand-new stolen phones. Investigations led to the arrest of the principal burglar and another accomplice who specialised in altering phone IMEI numbers to evade tracking”.

He disclosed that all the suspects arrested are currently in custody, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

Okoye said in another development, operatives of the Orji Police Station on July 31st, 2025, at about 9pm (2100hrs) arrested one Ernest Nweke ‘m’ at Bishop’s Court roundabout, in the Owerri North LGA, following a distress call from concerned citizens.

The suspect, who is a native of Umuoji in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State but resident in the World Bank area of Owerri, was arrested with a locally fabricated pistol after he and three others allegedly robbed one Emmanuel FearGod ‘m’ of Fountain of Knowledge Hostel.

Okoye said, “Nweke, who confessed to being a member of the Vikings cult group, was identified by the victim and arrested while the others fled. Based on his confession, four other suspects: Chamberlain Prince, Akujuobi Godwin, Ugwuelu Joseph, and Frederick Chigozie were arrested the next morning and also confessed to the crime. All suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will be duly prosecuted in court”.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has commended the officers for their swift action and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to fight crime.

The Police boss urged residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station or through 0803 477 3600.

Metro

Police Arrest Fleeing Anambra Suspected Kidnapper In Kaduna

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, John Chinagorom, who is said to have been on the Command’s wanted list.

A statement released on Saturday by the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State, with the assistance of the Kaduna State Police Command.

Ikenga said his arrest followed a credible intelligence received by operatives of the Ozubulu Police Division on August 1, that the suspect, who is linked to a kidnapping case in Anambra, was sighted at PZ Park Road, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that its officers, with the assistance of the Kaduna State Police Command, have arrested John Chinagorom ‘M’, a suspected kidnapper, who has been on the Command’s wanted list.

“This follows a credible intelligence received by operatives of the Ozubulu Police Division at noon of 1st August 2025, that the suspect, John Chinagorom, who is linked to a kidnapping Case reported on 15th April 2025, was sighted at PZ Park Road, Zaria, Kaduna State.

“Acting swiftly on the information, a team of Police detectives from the Division was dispatched, and they successfully apprehended the suspect at his hideout in Zaria, with the assistance of officers of the Kaduna State Police Command.

“The suspect is currently in custody and is assisting the Police in the ongoing investigation.”

He urged the general public to remain calm, assuring them that the security situation in the state is under control as joint security patrols and other crime prevention operations are ongoing.

“Meanwhile, the general security situation across other parts of the State remains calm, as counter-terrorism and other crime prevention operations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” he added.