The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has applauded the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja declining jurisdiction to hear contempt proceedings filed by one Edozie Njoku in the name of the party, NRM.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, had declined jurisdiction on the contempt proceedings filed by one Edozie Njoku and subsequently remitted the entire suit to the Chief Judge.
A statement by Peter Letsuwa, National Publicity Secretary, National Rescue Movement, while commending the court decision, stated that the entirety of the suit and the contempt proceedings are decoys to hijack the leadership of the party through the back door by Edozie Njoku.
It further stated that “the said Edozie was the factional Chairman of the APGA until he was sacked by the Supreme Court in November 2024.”
It said Edozie Njoku, who is not known to the NRM, and without the consent and authority of the party, had on the 23rd of February, 2026, filed a Notice to Show Cause why an order of committal to prison should not be made against the Chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan SAN.
Edozie alleged that INEC was in contempt of the Court’s order of 5th March, 2025, despite
overwhelming evidence that the Commission had fully complied with the judgement of 5th March, 2025, and was not in contempt in any way.
In opposition to the application, the INEC filed its counter-affidavit. It also filed a motion urging the court to decline jurisdiction over the contempt.
In a well-considered ruling, the Court agreed with the submission of INEC. It consequently declined jurisdiction over the contempt proceedings and remitted the case file to the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for further directions.
The National Rescue Movement applauds the ruling, noting that it shows that justice was not
only done but manifestly seen to be done.
The NRM warns against filing frivolous applications in its name, and anyone who does so would be dealt with. The party notes that the judgement delivered on 5 March 2025 contained three principal orders. The first and second orders were declaratory, which is not enforceable.
While the third was an order of mandamus, which INEC has complied with. The judgement did not confer any specific or enforceable right on Edozie Njoku or any other individual.
In compliance with the Court’s order, the Party duly notified the Commission of an Emergency National Convention held on 14 April 2025, which the Commission monitored and
whose outcome it subsequently recognised.
The entirety of the suit and the contempt proceedings are decoys to hijack the leadership of the
Party through the back door by Edozie Njoku, the political party said, adding that the said Edozie was the factional chairman of the APGA until he was sacked by the Supreme Court in November 2024.
By December 2024, he claimed to be a member of the NRM, and by January 17, 2025, he organised a
kangaroo gathering, called an ’emergency’ and declared himself the National Chairman.
The charade was widely condemned. In fact, on Wednesday, 22nd January 2025, INEC held its
First Quarterly Consultative meeting with Political Parties to brief Political Parties on the
activities of the Commission.
In the said meeting, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), an umbrella body of all political parties in Nigeria, condemned the attempt of Edozie Njoku to hijack the NRM.
Edozie’s conduct of misrepresenting the decisions of courts to the public had been noted by our
courts and the acts of unfounded misinterpretations of judgement displayed by Edozie Njoku received the admonition of the apex court in APGA & Anor. v. Chief Victor Okey & 3 Ors. (Unreported, SC/CV/824/2024, delivered on 27th November, 2024), where the court held thus: ‘Here I must state clearly that no enforceable order was made in favour of Chief Edozie Njoku in Appeal No: SC/CV/687/2021; rather, the judgement merely settled the jurisdictional and procedural issues raised.
The correction of the judgement of this Court did not elevate the status of Chief Edozie or confer any enforceable right on him regarding the chairmanship of the 1st appellant, APGA.
Leave a Reply