Court strikes out contempt charge against Secondus, PDP NWC

A Lagos High Court, Thursday, struck out a contempt suit against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The court in Igbosere presided over by Justice Taofikat Oyekan-Abdullahi dismissed the application filed against them following the applicants’ request to withdraw the charge.

The state chairman of the party; Dr Adegbola Dominic, Elder John Babatunde Agbaje, Alhaji Fatai Ajisefinni and Chief Taiwo Kuye, of the PDP’s Lagos ctate chapter had filed the application seeking the court’s intervention on their behalf.

However, the Justice refused to grant the prayer of Secondus and his NWC members for the court to impose a N500,000 fine on the applicants for initiating the contempt proceedings.

Other defendants are: the PDP, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Danladi Baidu Tijo, Ahmed M. Mukthar and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The claimants had alleged that Secondus, and the NWC members disobeyed the court’s order of last November 12, which restrained them from conducting a special election for vacant offices in the party’s Lagos chapter.

They claimed that the PDP conducted the “illegal” election, despite having foreknowledge of the case and pending application for interlocutory injunction.

The special election committee was chaired by Senator Obi at the instance of Secondus, they claimed.

Recall that Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi, had last December, ordered the defendants to show cause why an order for committal should not be made against them.

Secondus, Obi and the other defendants appeared in court on the last adjournment, February 11, 2020, following which the judge adjourned till yesterday for hearing of pending applications.

Francis Akinlotan appeared as counsel for all the claimants, Emmanuel Enoidem appeared for Secondus, Obi, the PDP and three other defendants, while Wendy Kuku represented INEC (the seventh respondent).

Akinlotan informed the judge of the claimants’ intention to abandon their contempt application.

“The second contemnor (Secondus) is not in court today. I don’t want to belabour the point. I want to withdraw my contempt application so that we can go to the merit of the case.”

But Enoidem opposed him, on the ground, according to him, that Akinlotan had not given a valid reason for the withdrawal.

“My lord, we are not objecting, but we shall ask for costs. I am asking for costs of N500, 000 each for the first and second persons cited for contempt,” he said.

Following Akinlotan’s refusal to concede costs, Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi held: “Since the learned counsel (Akinlotan) is the sole conducting officer of his case, he has graciously applied to court to withdraw the contempt proceedings application.

“I do not think that costs will be appropriate in the circumstances. There is nothing more important in contempt proceedings than attendance, composure and remorse in the face of the contemnors.

“While appreciating the learned counsel’s objection, I am of the view that money is not the price for contempt to compensate the contemnor, rather, his attendance of court proceedings to face his or her charge.

“This is however averted by the withdrawal and I hold the contemnor in high esteem for the remorse and attendance in court. No further respect must be shown by any court than this.

“Based on this reasoning, the contempt proceedings application is accordingly struck out and the substantive suit shall be taken forthwith. This is my ruling.”

Further proceeding was adjourned till April 29.

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