The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, has scheduled May 11 and 12, 2026, for the commencement of committal proceedings against the immediate former Director of Legal Services of the Nigeria Police Force, Headquarters, Mr. Emmanuel Ade Aina, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), alongside 28 other individuals.
They are accused of flagrantly disobeying court orders and interfering in the affairs of the Incorporated Trustees of Divine Homes Residents Association (ITDHRA), leading to the arrest, detention, and prosecution of the former chairman, Mr. Uche Nwabueze.
The other alleged contemnors include Lami Patrick (Superintendent of Police, SP), Esther Onyenike (SP), Stanley Nwodo (SP), Paul Edom (Inspector of Police, IP), Edmund Ejiogu, Bolaji Akinsanya, Adannaya Ukoha, Femi Lawal, Oluha Ifeanyi, Chidinma Marvelous Dim, Anih Tochukwu Benjamin, John Casmir Ekenedirichukwu, Obioha Okengwu, Kingsley Inweni, Tega Tega DJ, Chijioke Ambrose Jerome Onyema, and John Dapo Adepoju.
Others are Ganika Uche Abba, Lawal Wasilat Oluwayemisi, Jinadu Babatunde Usman, Babantah Walter Cijioke, Lawal Bashiru Ayodele Toyin, Mike Ndubuisi, Taoheed Olawale Idris, Alphonsus Ohams, Simeon Moju, Kadiri Idris, and Kenneth Okamgba.
The court has already issued an order for the contempt proceedings to be posted at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, and at the addresses of the alleged contemnors, enabling them to appear and show cause why they should not be imprisoned for disobeying previous court directives that barred them from interfering in ITDHRA’s affairs.
The matter arose after the alleged contemnors continued to operate as executives of Divine Homes Residents Association using a constitution dated April 6, 2018, which had been declared invalid by the court.
They conducted elections and maintained a parallel executive committee, directly contravening the court’s orders.
Their actions reportedly included the obstruction of court bailiffs enforcing the judgment and the instigation of Mr. Nwabueze’s unlawful arrest and detention, despite an interim order dated October 8, 2025, protecting him.
Counsel for the applicant, Mr. Pius Segun Abioro, argued that disobedience of a valid court order constitutes contempt and cited the Supreme Court ruling in Ojukwu v. Military Governor of Lagos State (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt. 26) 39, which emphasizes that court orders must be obeyed before being challenged.
He also referenced Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, Cap. S6, which allows courts to commit individuals to prison for refusing to comply with its orders.
Mr. Abioro stressed that the January 5, 2024, court order, reaffirmed on November 21, 2024, was clear and unambiguous.
The contemnors were aware of the order but proceeded to resist its execution, operate a parallel executive committee, and conduct elections using the nullified constitution.
He urged the court to commit them to prison to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.
In support of the motion, Mr. Nwabueze filed a 35-paragraph affidavit detailing multiple violations, including:
Continuing to operate as executives using the nullified constitution.
Obstructing the execution of the judgment by court bailiffs on January 20, 2025, leading to violent confrontations and injuries to law enforcement officers.
Instigating attacks on security personnel employed to enforce the judgment.
Being involved in Mr. Nwabueze’s arrest and prosecution despite an interim court order.
The affidavit also included supporting evidence such as copies of the original and reaffirmed judgments, reports from court bailiffs, security reports, photographs of injured personnel, and proof of service of court notices to the contemnors.
The Federal High Court had initially restrained certain ITDHRA members from holding elections or forming an executive committee using the invalidated constitution and barred the Nigeria Police from interfering in association affairs.
Despite this, the factional executives proceeded, triggering the unlawful arrest of the former chairman.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagua presided over the case, which saw Mr. Nwabueze discharged and acquitted of all wrongdoing.
The court further reaffirmed that the applicant and his executive committee should run the association’s affairs until the end of their tenure.
Although the administration led by Mr. Nwabueze has ended and a new legitimate executive committee is in place under Colonel Samuel G. Ladejola-Oginni (Rtd), breaches persist as the factional exco continues to prevent the legitimate executives from exercising their authority.
Consequently, Mr. Nwabueze and the new ITDHRA executives returned to court to initiate Form 48 and Form 49 contempt and committal proceedings against the alleged contemnors.
The alleged contemnors have yet to respond to the ongoing contempt proceedings.
