Lawyer threatens to file contempt case against newly appointed Rector of Fed. Poly, Nekede

A lawyer, Kingdom Okere, says he will file contempt proceeding against Mrs Basillia Igbokwe if she takes oath of office as the newly appointed Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, in Imo.

Okere, who is the Executive Director, Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

The lawyer also threatened to join the Registrar of the institution, Mrs E.C. Anuna, in the contempt charge for alleged disobedience of a court order.

Besides, he said they would equally commence contempt proceeding personally against the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, for issuing Igbokwe an appointment letter in spite of a pending suit.

“The attention of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International has been drawn to a memo issued by the registrar to the polytechnic community with reference NO: FPN/R/82/V/190 dated 12th September, 2024,” he said.

He said the subject matter of the memo was “on the inauguration ceremony of the 9th substantive rector” of the polytechnic.

He said there was a pending suit before the National Industrial Court, Abuja in suit number: NICN/ ABJ/232/2024, challenging the procedure adopted in the selection, nomination, recommendation and appointment of Igbokwe.

He said the foundation had obtained an ex-parte order from the court, restraining and prohibiting Igbokwe from acting in any capacity or assuming the office of the rector in whatsoever capacity, except as prescribed and expressly provided in Section 8 (2) (3) and (4) of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act, 2019, and pending the hearing of motion on notice or the final determination of the substantive suit.

“The registrar and the entire polytechnic community of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede are hereby put on notice to maintain status quo ante (as ordered by the court) and not to take any further step(s) that will further destroy the subject matter of the substantive suit.

According to Okere, all the defendants have been duly served and notified of the pending and subsisting court order and any attempt to destroy the subject matter and force fiat accompli (compieted act) on the court will be resisted with severe criminal sanction on them.

He said while the originating summons were filed on Aug. 4 and a copy duly served on the ministry by the bailiff of the court, “the appointment letter is dated and issued on 10th September 2024.”

The lawyer called on President Bola Tinubu to probe the issuance of the appointment letter to Igbokwe.”(NAN)