Contempt: Court Convicts NECO Registrar/CEO, One Other, Awaits Sentencing

The National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, found the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, and the Director, Human Resources Management Department, Mrs. Folake Eweje, in contempt of court.

The court ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest and produce the duo before it on October 24, 2024, for disobeying its order made on July 5, 2022.

Justice O.Y. Anuwe ruled: “I find that the claimants have established that the defendant is in contempt of this court, and I hereby hold the defendant and the respondents in contempt of this court.”

The judge quoted a previous ruling, stating: “Persons against whom an order of court is made have the plain and unqualified duty to obey the order as long as it subsists. It does not matter that such an order is believed to be irregular or even void.”

Justice Anuwe added: “The respondents have failed woefully to show any cause why the orders of this court made on 5th July 2022 were disobeyed by the defendant and why, as principal officers of the defendant, they should not be committed for contempt.”

The court’s ruling came after the claimants, Mr. Charles Berje and Dr. Anthonia Utoh, were granted leave to institute contempt proceedings against the NECO officials for disobeying the court’s order.