Court Orders INEC Chairman to Appear Over Alleged Contempt of Court

Court Orders INEC Chairman to Appear Over Alleged Contempt of Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to personally appear before the court on March 10, 2026, over an alleged contempt of court charge filed by the National Rescue Mission (NRM).

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the directive on Wednesday after the INEC chairman failed to attend court proceedings in the matter.

During the hearing, counsel to INEC, Mr. M. S. Bawa, requested an adjournment, informing the court that the commission’s chairman could not attend due to an emergency. He added that the commission had already filed a counter-affidavit challenging the contempt proceedings and urging the court to dismiss the application.

However, the request was opposed by counsel to the National Rescue Mission (NRM), Mr. Oladimeji Ekengba, who questioned the absence of the INEC boss in a matter bordering on contempt of court.

According to Ekengba, contempt proceedings require the accused person to be physically present before the court.

“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,” he told the court.

Following the arguments, Justice Egwuatu ordered that a fresh hearing notice be served personally on the INEC chairman, directing him to appear before the court on the next adjourned date.

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The court had earlier approved substituted service of Form 48, a legal notice warning of the consequences of disobeying a valid court order. The document was ordered to be delivered to any staff member at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The contempt charge against INEC arose from a judgment delivered by the court on March 5, 2025, which directed the electoral body to recognise the outcome of an emergency convention conducted by the National Rescue Mission on January 17, 2025.

According to the party, the convention produced a new leadership led by Chief Edozie Njoku and was convened to address leadership vacancies and internal imbalances within the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

The NRM alleged that despite being aware of the judgment and having been served with the enrolled order, INEC failed to comply with the court’s directive, prompting the party to initiate contempt proceedings against the commission and its chairman.

In court documents, the party argued that Form 48, which warns a party about the consequences of disobeying a court order, had already been served. The next step in the legal process could involve the issuance of Form 49, requiring the alleged contemnor to appear before the court to explain why he should not face punishment for contempt.

Officials of the National Rescue Mission were present in court during Wednesday’s proceedings, led by Chief Edozie Njoku.

Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Njoku expressed confidence that the INEC chairman would eventually comply with the court’s directive and formally recognise the party’s leadership.

He described the legal dispute as a matter concerning respect for the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary, stressing that all public institutions must obey valid court orders.

The case was subsequently adjourned to March 10, 2026, when Prof. Joash Amupitan is expected to appear before the court to respond to the contempt of court allegation.

Court Orders INEC Chairman to Appear Over Alleged Contempt of Court