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Court reserves ruling on contempt case against PDP Chieftains, OGSIEC

Ogun State High Court sitting in Ilaro has reserved Ruling till July 26 in the “contempt proceeding” filed against Chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in … Continue reading Court reserves ruling on contempt case against PDP Chieftains, OGSIEC


Ogun State High Court sitting in Ilaro has reserved Ruling till July 26 in the “contempt proceeding” filed against Chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Ireti Oniyide, Hon. Fasiu Bakenne and Ambassador Oladunjoye and members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

This latest contempt proceeding which is before Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu of the Ilaro Court exposes Chief Oniyide, Bakenne, Oladunjoye and members of the electoral body to the risk of being sentenced to another jail term if found guilty.

Chief Oniyide, Mr Fasiu Bakenne and Oladunjoye who carry on as members of the State Caretaker Committee of PDP in Ogun State, were last July 4, committed to six months jail term by Justice Charles Effanga Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for alleged serial contempt of court order regarding which organ of Ogun PDP should submit list of candidates for the July 21 Council polls in the state.

It will be recalled that their sentence followed a motion filed before Justice Archibong by a faction of the Ogun State PDP led by Engr. Adebayo Dayo (Chairman) and Alh. Semiu Sodipo (Secretary) which derived its legitimacy from several favorable court pronouncements.

A fresh application before Justice Dipeolu  seeking an order  for the “committal” of same Chief Ireti Oniyide, Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye and Fasiu Bakenne  was heard but the Judge adjourned till July 26 for ruling, saying the adjournment would afford her the time to  sift through all the arguments and submissions all of parties involved.

Oniyide, Bakenne and Oladunjoye were perceived by the applicants as treating valid court order with contempt by submitting names of candidates for Local Government polls to OGSIEC, had the candidates’ names published in a national daily and thereby allegedly undermining the role of the Adebayo Dayo led Executive Committee of PDP in ogun state.

Also listed for “committal” in the ” contempt proceeding,” are the Chairman, Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, Alh. Korede Lawal, Bisiriyu Adekambi, Mutiu Agboke, Oyediran Aina, Kolawole Odesanya, Adetokunbo Williams – all members of OGSIEC, and OGSIEC as a body.
The said application for the committal of the “alleged contemnors” was filed by same Engr. Adebayo Dayo and Alh. Semiu Sodipo on behalf of themselves and Executive Committee of Ogun State PDP through their Counsel, Mr Ajibola Oluyede.

When the matter came up for hearing before justice Dipeolu, Oluyede told the court that the matter was for the committal of the alleged contemnors and that by their action held the Court out as being “irrelevant” whose valid order and pronouncements are not binding on them.

But Counsel for the PDP National Secretariat, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, who held brief for Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye, urged the court to dismiss the contempt on grounds that it lacked competence and constitute abuse of court process.

Also, Mr. Abraham Adeoye, counsel for OGSIEC and its members, prayed the court to discountenance the application and dismiss for being procedurally defective.

According Adeoye, the application failed to follow the Sheriff and Civil procedure but justice Dipeolu after listening to all parties adjourned till July 26 for Ruling.