Judge’s absence stalls contempt proceedings against I-G

The absence of Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, again, stalled contempt proceedings against the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

The court could not go on with the proceedings as earlier adjourned on Jan. 21, because Auta was said to be attending a meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

It would be recalled that the matter was adjourned on the last adjourned date for the same reason.

The Auta had issued a contempt of court summons against the I-G, mandating him to appear before the court on Jan. 21, or be committed to prison.

The absence the judge in court on Jan. 21 had compelled the court registrar, in conjunction with counsel to parties in the case, to fix Feb. 27 for hearing in the contempt suit.

The summon was sequel to a contempt of court charge (Form 49) filed against Mohammed Abubakar (I-G) by a constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

Falana had submitted that the police boss had “persistently refused to obey court orders and had disobeyed the judgments of three Abuja High Courts’’.

He contended in his submission that the judgments of the courts had stopped the police from interfering with the activities of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN).

Falana further alleged that the I-G had refused to lift the ban placed by police on the operations of the Peace Corps as ordered by the court since 2009, notwithstanding the said judgments.

The matter was again adjourned to April 7 for hearing.

(NAN)