The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Wednesday started contempt proceedings against the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and others over alleged disregard of a sequence of courtroom orders.
The growth was sequel to the choice of the Minister to incorporate the Managing Director of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), within the listing of heads of businesses dissolved on September 27.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) studies that Wike had, on Sept. 27 in an announcement, relieved the heads of 21 parastatals, businesses and authorities corporations of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of their appointments with speedy impact, together with AMML.
The contempt cost, filed by Abubakar, additionally joined the FCTA, AMML and Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively, together with the previous appearing MD of AMML, Yakubu Abbas.
In the Form 48 marked, NICN/ABJ/62/2023, dated and filed on Nov. 3, the appliance was titled: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court.”
It was introduced pursuant to Section 72 Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004; Order IX Rules 1-3 of the Judgment Enforcement Rules and Under the inherent jurisdiction of the courtroom.
The software reads: “Take notice that unless you (the defendants) obey the orders and directions contained in the judgment of the court on July 20 and the order of this Honourable Court made on July 26, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
NAN studies that Abubakar’s counsel, Faruk Khamagam, had, following the dissolution, written to Wike on Sept. 28, to tell him concerning the peculiar conditions that surrounded the company’s headship and the authorized tussle that preceded his appointment as minister.
Khamagam, within the letter, advised Wike a sequence of courtroom judgments that affirmed Abubakar’s standing as substantive MD of AMML.
The contempt continuing was against the allegation that the minister and others have been appearing in disobedience to the orders of the economic courtroom made on July 20, restraining them from giving impact to the purported letter of termination of the employment of Abubakar because the AMML’s MD.
Justice R.B.Haastrup had restrained the defendants from giving impact to the termination of the employment of Abubakar Usman Faruk because the M.D of AMML, which was contained of their letter dated July 17 till the listening to and dedication of the counterpart movement on discover.
The choose additionally ordered the defendants to not, in any means, intrude within the administration, enterprise and company affairs of the AMML and that the established order ante be maintained till the counterpart movement on discover was heard and decided.
NAN additionally studies that Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had, on July 10 in a judgment, restrained the FCT Minister, the FCTA and others within the swimsuit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2023 from dissolving and reconstituting the Board of AMML by political fiat or press assertion, with out first following the process of CAMA, 2020.
The courtroom declared that doing so is extremely vires the powers of the FCT Minister and the FCTA, whereas additionally affirming Abubakar as AMML’s MD.
Khamagam, who mentioned the AICL and FCTA had continued to insist on the termination of Abubakar’s employment as contained of their July 17 letter, additionally mentioned that Abbas had been parading himself as AMML appearing MD against legitimate courtroom orders and judgment.
“Engr. Yakubu Abbas himself has been parading himself as the acting MD of AMML and has been signing and issuing documents in that capacity, in the name of AMML from unknown locations,” he alleged.
The AMML Legal Adviser and Secretary, Mr Felix Edache, additionally alleged that on Monday, policemen from varied instructions stormed the AMML head workplace in Gudu on the orders of the FCT Commissioner of Police.
Edache mentioned the officers, led by DSP Bello Adamu, mentioned they have been deployed to make sure peace and employees’ security.
“When I resumed, I saw a flood of armed policemen all over the premises.
“Upon getting to the office, I was told that they had come to ensure the safety of the place but I told them that I am not aware that AMML made any complaint to the police to that effect.
“In fact, if there should be any such complaint, it should have come from me,” he mentioned.
According to him, the true agenda unfolded later within the night once they offered a memo from the FCTA signed by the General Counsel, Salman Dako, purportedly written on behalf of the FCT Minister asking the CP to forestall the MD, Abubakar, and the Legal Adviser from gaining entrance into the workplace.
“Although the memo by Dako cited the termination of Abubakar’s employment as the reason for the request, it did not say why the police were being asked to prevent me from entering the office.
“We are law-abiding citizens. We will never do anything to subvert the law.
“However, any attempt to trample our rights would be resisted with every legal tool.
“It is time for the Minister to reassess his legal team at the ministry so that they don’t end up misleading him into running afoul of the law which he also swore to protect as both lawyer and public servant.
“I am hopeful that the minister will act accordingly,” he mentioned.
