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Tag: NRM

  • NRM threatens arrest warrant against INEC chair

    NRM threatens arrest warrant against INEC chair

    The National Rescue Movement (NRM) on Friday, threatened to apply for a bench warrant of arrest against Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    NRM lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba, stated this before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, following the absence of Yakubu in court.

    Justice Egwuatu had, in June 17, granted the application filed by NRM to serve the contempt charge on the INEC chairman by substituted means.

    The judge granted the request after Ekengba, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

    Justice Egwuatu, while delivering the ruling, directed that the Form 48, which is a notice of the consequence of disobedience of a court order, be served on Mahmood by handling same to any staff of the commission at its national headquarters.

    He then adjourned the matter for hearing.

    Ekengba had alleged that INEC and its chairman flouted an order of mandamus the court made on March 5, which directed them to accept the outcome of an emergency convention that produced Chief Edozie Njoku-led executives of the party.

    Ekengba said the essence of the emergency convention which held on Jan. 17, was to fill vacancy and correct lopsidedness in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

    When the matter was called on Friday, Ekengba said the case was slated for mention in a contempt proceeding against the INEC chairman, Yakubu.

    “I am shocked that he is absence in a contempt proceeding that is a criminal matter,” he said.

    Yakubu ‘s lawyer, Alhassan Umar, SAN, however informed the court that they had filed a preliminary objection to challenge the matter.

    He said the application was filed on July 17, hence, the contempt charge was not ripe for hearing.

    “In our view, our application takes precedence over contempt proceedings. It has to be taken and determined first before the contempt

    “I am surprised that my learner friend did not disclose that he has been served that application and subject to court convenience of the court, we are ready to proceed,” he said.

    Resounding, Ekengba acknowledged being served with the objection on Thursday.

    He argued that Umar’s submission that the preliminary objection ought to be heard first did not apply in law.

    Citing a previous Supreme Court decision in Ebhodaghe Vs Okoye, 2004, Page 495, the lawyer argued that a preliminary objection cannot take precedence when a contempt had been filed.

    According to him, the Supreme Court says that when it is an issue of contempt, it takes precedence over every other matters, because a defendant cannot be in contempt and still come to the same court for reliefs.

    “The fact is that the contempnor is not here and no reason was given.

    “Otherwise, I will be applying for a bench warrant of arrest for him to be here,” Ekengba said.

    “Can you respond to that?” the judge told INEC chairman’s lawyer.

    Umar said Ekengba himself admitted that the matter was fixed for mention and that the issue of jurudiction, which is fundamental, had been raised in their application.

    “Counsel, I have read it (the preliminary objection). I don’t need to read it again to know the fact of that case.

    “At least I read law. This profession is for all of us and no matter how highly place a person is, he should obey the law,” the judge said, adding that such action makes caricature of the judicial system.

    Justice Egwuatu said INEC, he knows, is a neutral party, hence, political parties should be allowed to solve their problems.

    The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct 8 for hearing.

  • NRM gets go-ahead to serve contempt charge on INEC chair

    NRM gets go-ahead to serve contempt charge on INEC chair

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application filed by the National Rescue Mission (NRM) to serve a contempt charge on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmood by substituted means.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the request on Tuesday, after counsel to the NRM, Oladimeji Ekengba, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

    Justice Egwuatu, while delivering the ruling, directed that the Form 48, which is a notice of the consequence of disobedience of a court order, be served on the Mahmood by handling same to any staff of the commission at its national headquarters.

    Earlier while moving the motion, Ekengba alleged that INEC and its chairman flouted an order of mandamus the court made on March 5, which directed them to accept the outcome of an emergency convention that produced Chief Edozie Njoku-led executives of the party.

    Ekengba said the essence of the emergency convention which held on Jan. 17, was to fill vacancy and correct lopsidedness in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

    “The respondent is aware that the emergency convention, the subject matter of the judgment, was held on 17th January, 2025, even by its own processes before this Honourable Court.

    “Notwithstanding that the Judgment debtor/respondent’s counsel by name, M.A. Bawa, was in court when the judgment was delivered, the judgment creditor took the pain to still serve the judgment debtor/respondent with a copy of the enrolled order of the judgment.

    “Inspite of  being aware, the judgment debtor (INEC) refused to comply with the judgment of this Honourable Court till date.

    In the affidavit deposed to by Adebayo Wasiu, the NRM chronicled how INEC had disregarded the court order.

    “In order not to reduce this Honourable Court to a toothless bulldog, and also to enhance the cause of justice, the registrar of the court on the application of the judgment creditor, issued FORM 48 to be served on the chairman of the respondent in order for him to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for failing to comply with the judgment of this court.”

    It said the application for the processes to be served on Prof. Mahmood through substituted means was owing to the fact that it would be impossible to hand the processes to him personally.

    After listening to the lawyer, Justice Egwuatu granted the application as prayed.

    The judge, however, held that the applicant should after effecting the service, depose to an affidavit to indicate the name of the INEC official the processes were handed to.

    He adjourned the matter until July 15 for mention.

  • NRM threatens to file contempt charge against INEC chairman

    NRM threatens to file contempt charge against INEC chairman

    The leadership of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has threatened to file contempt charge against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged refusal to recognise Chief Edozie Njoku as its national chairman.

    The NRM said INEC’s refusal to accord due recognition to Njoku-led leadership was in total disobedience to court judgment.

    Njoku stated this while speaking to newsmen on Thursday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Asokoro in Abuja.

    He, however, expressed optimism that INEC would recognise him and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, having not appealled the judgment of Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.

    “The party (INEC) is in direct disobedience of the subsisting orders of the court in which it did not utilise their 90 days’ window to appeal both the ex-parte order and judgement as stipulated by law.

    “Pertinently, the commission was a party to this suit and was duly represented throughout the matter. We have written to INEC and forwarded the court orders to them, hoping they will act accordingly,” he said.

    Njoku and other members of the NRM leadership were elected on Jan. 17 at the emergency national convention of the party held in Abuja.

    However, sNjoku’s emergence as national chairman of NRM, the INEC chairman had allegedly refused to recognise him and the NEC members as leaders of the party despite an order of court to do so.

    Before the emergency national convention, NRM had approached the court seeking an ex-parte order to impel INEC to monitor the said convention.

    NRM had prayed the court for; “leave to apply for a writ of mandamus compelling the respondent (INEC) to perform its official duty as contained in Sections 82(1) & 83 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 by monitoring the emergency national convention of the applicant (NRM) following the depletion and the lopsidedness in the National Executive Committee of the applicant.”

    On Jan.16, the NRM secured an order of the Federal High Court Abuja, mandating the electoral body to “monitor and accept” the outcome of the exercise.

    Also,Justice Egwuatu of the FHC had, on March 5, delivered a judgment in the suit marked
    FHC/ABJ/CS/45/2025, ordering the INEC to recognise Njoku and those who emerged from the emergency convention as authentic leaders of the party.

    Meanwhile, counsel to NRM, Joe Agi, SAN, in a letter dated June 4 and addressed to INEC chairman, urged him to purge himself of the contemptuous act.

    The letter reads: “It is abundantly clear that the orders of the court were very explicit: to monitor and accept the outcome of the said convention.

    “The commission, for reasons best known to them, refused neither to monitor the convention of January 17, 2025, nor accept the outcome of the emergency national convention.

    “Going forward, INEC did not take up their option to appeal, either the order of January 16, 2025, or the judgment of March 5, 2025, up until now that their 90 days period of appeal has elapsed” the party wrote.

    “Consequently, the NRM leadership has vowed to begin a contempt proceeding against INEC if it fails to do the needful.

    “Sir, we have laboured to cite the above relevant judgments of our courts and to also notify you that we have commenced a contempt proceeding against you. We urge you to obey the judgment of the court and purge yourself of this contemptuous act.

    “Should you fail, we shall not hesitate to urge the court to commit you to prison in line with the rule of law. A stitch in time, saves nine.”

  • NRM Deputy National Chairman discloses why he left party

    Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the Deputy National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) says he left the party because it lacked internal democracy.

    Usman, who resigned his membership of the NRM on Wednesday, told newsmen in Abuja that he left because he was not happy with the situation at the party.

    “Taking you back along memory lane, NRM was formed and got registered in 2018.

    “I was one of the founding members, that were more than 50 in number, but as of recent, only three of us were still in the party all the rest have gone, maybe because of the way the party is being run.

    “My decision to quit because of the glaring lack of democracy in the party, the majority of the National Working Committee members are from one zone.

    “The national chairman of the party is from South East, same is the presidential candidate, deputy national secretary, welfare and other officers.

    “They take decisions and just come to tell us what they have decided. The truth is all of us who came together to register the party have left,” he said.

    Abubakar also alleged that some people were trying to use the NRM as a money-making venture, ahead of the 2023 poll.

    He said that he was making consultation before deciding to join a new party.

    Abubakar, who was the party’s Kastina State governorship candidate in the 2019 poll, said that he joined politics to provide services to the people.

    “I am convinced that politics is not only about making money but to serve the country and humanity in general,” he said.

  • Lagos by-election won’t be an easy ride for APC, NRM boasts

    Lagos by-election won’t be an easy ride for APC, NRM boasts

    The National Rescue Movement (NRM) says the Oct.31 Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe Constituency II, State House of Assembly by-election will not be a easy ride for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Chief Kaoli Olusanya, APC Vice Chairman, Lagos East had said during a meeting with ward chairmen and council officials in Somolu on Monday that the party will humble all opponents to win the elections.

    But Mr Adetayo Adelaja, the NRM candidate for Kosofe Constituency II by-election told NAN that the ruling party should not think the elections would be an easy ride.

    “I am not underrating any candidate because every candidate has a bright chance, but ours is the brightest.

    ” I am sure the ruling party is thinking that it is going to be a walkover, let us wait and see,” he said.

    On campaign, Adelaja said that the party had commenced mobilisation of voters at the grassroots through a door-to-door campaign to ensure victory at the poll.

    “Youths who have formed themselves into different cells are going round mobilising support. They are aware that the focus of the electorate is on party and not individuals.

    “They are moving around informing the electorate not to focus on party but on candidate who can deliver. Is it not time to rescue our community from 21 years of promises and failure?,” he said.

    Adelaja said that the target of his party was to rescue the masses and people of Kosofe Constituency II and put joy on their faces by ensuring dividends of democracy at their door steps.

    “I will defend the constituents’ interests. I will engage the service of social workers to effectively solve their pressing personal problems.

    “I will organise youths in my constituency, ensure they are trained batches by batches on skills that will be of great benefits to them.

    ” Also, it is one of my burning desires to bring up future leaders that will take up as early as possible from us,” he said.

    The candidate urged security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible poll without giving undue advantage to the ruling party.

    The elections became necessary following the demise of former lawmakers who were members of APC.

  • Edo 2020: NRM candidate approaches court, seeks Ize-Iyamu’s disqualification from guber race

    Edo 2020: NRM candidate approaches court, seeks Ize-Iyamu’s disqualification from guber race

    The National Rescue Movement (NRM) prayed a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disqualify Osagie Ize – Iyamu as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the Edo governorship election.

    NRM and its candidate for the forthcoming Edo governorship, Stevie Ozono, filed the suit and named Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress, Osagie Ize – Iyamu and Gani Audu as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.

    The plaintiffs averred that by Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 31 and 153 of the Electoral Act and the Guidelines for the submission of candidates of political parties issued by INEC, it is only the political party’s National Chairman and the National Secretary who sign a letter forwarding names of the party’s candidate to INEC.

    They contended that it was Gov. MaiMala Buni of Yobe and John Akpan Udoedeghe, the National Chairman of the Caretaker/Extra – Ordinary Convention Committee and the National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extra – Ordinary Convention Committee who signed the letter conveying the names of Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Gani Audu to the INEC as the APC governorship candidate and running mate respectively for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

    The Movement and Ozono asked the court to determine whether after due consultation of Sections 183, 222a and 223 of the 1999 Constitution INEC can lawfully deem that the list of candidates of the APC for the Edo State gubernatorial elections to be held on Sept. 19, 2020, has been submitted to it by the letter dated June 29, signed by Udoedeghe and Buni.

    They asked the court to declare that APC has no candidates for the Edo State gubernatorial elections to be held on Sept. 19, by the non – submission of her list of candidates before the deadline on June 29.

    They also urged the court to make an Order voiding the decision of INEC to include APC, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Gani Audu as candidates in the gubernatorial elections about Edo to be held on Sept. 19, 2020.

    The plaintiffs attached a 30-paragraph of affidavit deposed to by Chinedu Obi, the National Publicity Secretary of the National Rescue Movement, to their suit.

    The case has been assigned to Justice A.R. Muhammed.

    No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.