Osun Lawyer Sues OSIEC, Speaker for Contempt

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ilesa Branch, Mr. Kanmi Ajibola, has filed a contempt charge against the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr Segun Oladitan; and all members of the electoral body.

Also joined in the suit is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye.

The PUNCH reports that Ajibola had approached an Osun State High Court, sitting in Ilesa, asking for orders restraining the assembly from amending the State Electoral Law, and OSIEC from conducting local government elections.

He subsequently filed Form 48 containing consequences of disobedience to order of court at the State High Court against the OSIEC Chairman and the Secretary of the Commission, MrAdedapo Adejumo.

Others joined in the suit are the OSIEC members, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Simeon Amusan and the State Attorney General, Femi Akande.

Meanwhile, Ajibola has written to the OSIEC chairman and the Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, warning them against insistence on the proposed October 15 local government election, when a matter regarding the election was already before the court.

The letter read in parts, “In the referred suit, an injunctive application was filed on August 2, 2022, and it was served immediately on all the defendants, bringing the pendency of same to their notice.

“It is the position of the law that once the application for enforcement of legal right is pending before a competent court, the parties in the case cannot take a step in respect of the subject matter in court, to do so will be contemptuous.”