Taraba PDP crisis: Bakari lawyer files contempt suit against Bawa
Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
John Okezie, lawyer to the embattled acting chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba state, Inuwa Bakari on Thursday initiated contempt action against the dismissed chairman of the party, Abubakar Bawa.
Okezie, who disclosed this on Thursday in Jalingo said that it is obvious that the ousted Chairman is showing no regards for the Judgment of the High Court in Jalingo and the express order made by the presiding Judge and so it is pertinent to hold him in contempt.
He further disclosed that Form 48, which is the notification of consequences of disobedience to a court order, which seeks to commit an alleged contemnor to prison, were filed before the High Court in Jalingo.
Nuhu Adi, a judge of the State High Court sitting in Jalingo had on Monday nullified Mr Bawa’s appointment as PDP chairman and reinstated Bakari as the authentic acting Chairman.
This came on the heels of an earlier case struck out by Bala Usman of the Federal High court Jalingo division, for lack of jurisdiction.
Okezie however noted that Bawa avoided the bailiff in order not to receive the suit notice.
“We then approached the court seeking AN ORDER granting leave to the Applicants to serve the Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48) and the Enrolled Order of this court in Suit No: TRSJ/62/2023 as well as all other subsequent processes in the contempt proceedings against the Respondent by substituted means, by pasting same at the residence of the Respondent located at Angwa Nana Aisha, Jalingo, Taraba State.
“The bailiff of this Honourable Court has made several efforts to effect personal service of the Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48) on the Respondent at his residential address situate at Angwa Nana Aisha, Jalingo, Taraba State.
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“The Respondent has refused to accept service of the Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48).
“It is only with the leave of this Honourable Court that the Respondent can be served with the Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48) through substituted means.
Mr Okezie said, “during the swearing in ceremony of the state commissioners at the Jolly Nyame hall Jalingo, Bawa sat in the sit reserved for the Party Chairman in violation to the court ruling.
“He also stated in a video interview that he still remains the State Party Chairman, he further said in the video interview that the Judgement of the Taraba State High Court is a Kangaroo Judgement.
“The above acts amount to serious contempt. Our Client, Alhaji Inuwa Bakari has instructed us to commence Contempt proceedings against Abubakar Bawa.
“We shall now stop at nothing to enforce the Judgment. Let Abubakar Bawa now produce the Federal High Court order he claims that affirmed him the State Chairman” he said.
