Ogun PDP Crisis: Court Threatens To Order Arrest Of Daniel, Bankole, Others

Ogun PDP Crisis: Court Threatens To Order Arrest Of Daniel, Bankole, Others

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday threatened to order the arrest of former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole if he fails to appear before him on December 19. 

The two politicians are among alleged contemnors in a contempt proceedings initiated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) executive committee members in Ogun State, believed to be loyal to a chieftain of the party, Buruji Kashamu. 

Other equally facing contempt for allegedly disobeying the court order are: the PDP, Dave Salako and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

The Ogun executives, led by Chief Adebayo Dayo had alleged that the respondents had been attempting to remove them from office, despite two Federal High Court judgments affirming the legality of their positions.

During yesterday's proceedings, Justice Okon Abang warned that he would not tolerate any disobedience of his orders by anybody. 

He said, "I have jurisdiction to enforce the judgment of this court. It's up to them to be here on the next adjourned date. If they're not here on the 15th of December, I will compel their attendance. I so hold.

The court also noted that it was wrong for anyone to disobey a court order and give the impression that the court is powerless. 

The judge warned the contemnors that, "The court can bark, bite, and where the situation demands, break the bones," the judge warned. 

The court further held that it would also not consider any application filed by the alleged contemnors if they do not appear in court personally. 

Justice Abang stated, "The alleged contemnors are not in court, but they ought to be in court. It is mandatory that they have to be here. They cannot be in the comfort of their homes. They must be in court before any application filed by them can be taken. 

"The second (Bankole), third (Daniel) and fourth (Salako) respondents have no reason for being absent in court today and no reason has been offered for their absence. It's not a civil matter. This is a quasi-criminal matter," the judge said. 

He described such behaviour as "reprehensible to the extreme", adding: "I will not be a party to this type of unwholesome development."

It will be recalled that the court had granted an ex-parte applicantion by the plaintiffs' counsel, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, allowing them to serve the alleged contemnors with the motion on notice for committal outside Lagos, such as in Abuja and Ogun State. 

The judge also restrained the PDP National Working Committee from recognising any primaries except the ones conducted by the Adebayo-led executive. 

He further restrained INEC from accepting as valid any such primaries or publishing any list other than the Ad Hoc Ward delegate list prepared by the applicants. 

Justice Abang directed PDP and INEC to ensure that the primaries in Ogun State for candidates for next year's election scheduled to hold on December 6, 7 and 8 are conducted only with the Ad Hoc Ward delegated list. 

The judge warned that if the alleged contemnors fail to report in court, including INEC's principal officer, he would strike out any of their motions before him. 

"If they're not in court, I will strike out any motion filed by them for being incompetent," he held. 

He adjourned till December 15 for hearing of motion seeking to jail the contemnors.