Three former federal lawmakers risk being imprisoned following their refusal to honour Supreme Court judgements ordering them to return some monies
The court in 2017 awarded judgement debts against Abubakar Danladi, then a senator, Herman Hembe and Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka, both members of the House of Representatives as at that time.
By the time this judgement was delivered, Mr Sopuluchukwu had spent 22 months at the House of Representatives.for Rep members, Mr Sopuluchukwu was to return N794, 085 he received monthly for 22 months. “Are you aware that there are other judgements? About three of us. Hembe…have they returned their own? It is a general thing. They treated it equally, if they have returned, all of us have returned.
PREMIUM TIMES could not reach Mr Nwankwo to ask if the fine awarded in his favour has been paid. His lines were switched off for several days.Two months after Mr Sopuluchukwu’s case, the Supreme Court sacked another House of Representatives member, Herman Hembe. The court ruled that he was not the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
“I have tried very hard to raise a loan to enable me to comply with the above order of this Honourable Court, but have not yet succeeded. I will comply with the order of this Honourable Court as soon as I am able to raise the money,” he noted in an application filed before the apex court after the judgement.
“He has not paid me anything,” Mrs Mato said. “Even the fine of one million he has not given me. I tried to complain to the National Assembly through the leadership, by then Dogara , but nobody answered me. At a time, I became quiet but I wrote a complaint to the National Assembly and nothing was done.”the same day as Mr Hembe and asked to refund what he had earned for 24 months as a Senator.
“Any sum of money payable under a judgment of a court may be recovered, in case of default or failure of payment thereof forthwith or at the time or times and in the manner thereby directed, by execution against the goods and chattels and the immovable property of the judgment debtor in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”
This can only be effective after a court at the conclusion of an investigation directs so. Such debtor may be committed to prison and discharged after presenting a certificate signed by the creditor or by any officer of the court, to the effect that such person has satisfied the debt or instalment. Lekan Alabi, a lawyer, said the Attorney-General can enforce the judgement on behalf of the state but it needs to be notified by the National Assembly to do so. This option, he said, is viable because the National Assembly was not a party to the case.
“A party who is in contempt of a court does not have any right to get anything from that court. In other words, if the court directs you to comply with a judgement and you fail to do so, the court may refuse to listen to you in another matter,” he said.PREMIUM TIMES made several efforts to get official comments from the National Assembly but all did not yield success.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Polls: Buhari, APC 'll defeat Atiku, PDP at world court, supreme court - OshiomholeThe National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari...
Read more »
Mexico disputes US Supreme Court order on asylum restrictionsNigeria News - Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Thursday that Mexico's government doesn't agree with US Supreme Court order on asylum.
Read more »
Presidential Tribunal: We'll still defeat you at Supreme Court - Oshiomhole tells Atiku, PDP - Daily Post NigeriaThe National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday, sent a boastful message to the Peoples Democratic Part
Read more »
Atiku, PDP Should Be Sorry Instead Of Going To Supreme Court -Lai Mohammed | Sahara Reporters.Atiku, OfficialPDPNig Should Be Sorry Instead Of Going To Supreme Court -Lai Mohammed |Sahara Reporters Instead of threatening to head to the Supreme Court, driven more by ego than commonsense, they should be sorry for allowing desperation... READ MORE:
Read more »
Election petition: Labour Party withdraws case against Abiodun at Supreme Court - Daily Post NigeriaThe Labour Party has withdrawn its election petition appeal against the victory of the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, at the Supreme Court. DAILY PO
Read more »
BREAKING: Court strikes out APC's argument that Atiku not Nigerian by birth - The Nation NewspaperThe PEPC has struck out the argument by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Atiku
Read more »