A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed May 11 and 12, 2026, to begin committal proceedings against the immediate former Director of Legal Services of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Emmanuel Ade Aina, and 28 others.
They are alleged to have flagrantly disobeyed the orders of Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagua in their attempt to meddle with the affairs of the Incorporated Trustees of Devine Homes Residents Association (ITDHRA), which led to the arrest, detention and subsequent prosecution of its former Chairman, Uche Nwabueze.
The court has already issued an order of contempt proceeding against the 29 contemnors to be posted around the Federal High Court, Ikoyi premises and the available addresses of the contemnors to enable them to approach the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for failing to comply with the order of the court, which stopped them from meddling with the affairs of ITDHRA.
In the motion on notice brought by the counsel to the applicant, Pius Segun Abioro, the applicant wants the court to determine whether the contemnors are in contempt of the court by virtue of their deliberate disobedience to the orders of the court by resisting the execution of the judgment, conducting elections with the nullified Association’s Constitution and operating a parallel Executive (EXCO) with the said nullified Constitution.
The lawyer argues that it is an established legal principle that a party that disobeys the valid and subsisting order of a court is in contempt and liable to committal.
He stated: “The order of this honourable court made on January 5, 2024, and reaffirmed on November 21, 2024, is clear and unambiguous. The alleged contemnors were fully aware of this order, yet proceeded to violate it by resisting the execution of the judgment, conducting elections with the nullified Association’s Constitution and operating a parallel EXCO with the said nullified Constitution.
“Likewise, the applicant was arrested and detained despite the interim order dated October 8, 2025 preventing his arrest and detention pending the hearing of the substantive application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
“The Supreme Court in Ojukwu v. Military Governor of Lagos State (1986) 3NWLR (Pt. 26) 39 emphasised that a party must first obey a court order, whether right or wrong, before challenging it.
“In view of the contemnors’ deliberate violation of the said order, it is imperative for this court to invoke its coercive powers to uphold the integrity of the judicial process by committing the contemnors to prison.”
Abioro further argued that Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, Cap. S6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 provides that if any person refuses or neglects to comply with an order made against him, he should be committed to prison and detained in custody.
See Also
News
Four Ex‑Operatives of Anambra Security Outfit Arraigned for Alleged Assault on NYSC Member
In conclusion, he urged the court to grant the applicant’s prayers as contained in the motion on notice.
To strengthen this application, a 35-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Nwabueze, was also filed to complete the averments.
“That I am the current Chairman of the Divine Homes Residents Association of Divine Homes Estate, Thomas Estate, Ajah, Lagos State, by virtue of the Judgment of this Honourable Court delivered on January 5, 2024, which was reaffirmed by Justice Allagoa on November 21, 2024.
“That after the judgment was delivered, the alleged contemnors prevented me from taking charge of the affairs of the Estate by continuing to use the Constitution invalidated by this court to operate a parallel administration, which has been controlling the security outfit at the Estate’s entrance gate and other services that ought to be administered by the validly elected EXCOS of the Estate which I lead,” he swore
