ANA Faction Loses Court Case, Risks Being Docked For Contempt of Court

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The National Executive of a faction of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) led by Mr. Camilus Ukah has lost its bid to challenge the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, in a pending originating summons against them and the faction it constituted for Abuja, under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Usman Halima.

Progress in the case, which the existing Executive members of the Abuja Chapter of the association filed was stalled by a preliminary objection based on the false allegations that the executives of the Abuja Chapter under Halima Usman were not members of ANA. 

In a ruling on the preliminary objection yesterday, the 7th July, 2022, the court dismissed the preliminary objection, thereby assuming full  jurisdiction to hear and determine whether or not the emergence of Mr. Ukah and his group as the National Executive Council of the association as claimed, as well as the emergence of the Abuja faction installed by the Ukah faction were in accordance with the constitution of ANA. 

It will be recalled that on 27th OctobDoer 2021, the court (Court 8 as it then was) ordered Mr. Ukah to stop parading himself as President of ANA, while all his purported EXCO members were equally restrained from acting in the various offices they were claiming, pending the determination of the pending motion on notice for an order of restraint that could last until the final determination of the case. 

By filing the preliminary objection, the Ukah-led faction had hoped to either terminate the case against it without the court looking into its merits, like they did successfully in a similar case earlier, otherwise they hoped to delay the matter while carrying on business as usual. However, the court ordered on Thursday July 7 that counsels for the claimants should proceed with their applications for contempt proceedings against Mr. Camillus Ukah, Mr. Maik Ortserga and Mr. Umar Yogiza, the  factional President, General Secretary and Publicity Secretary (North) respectively.

Accordingly, hearing notices have been ordered to be served the three persons to appear in court on the next adjourned date, when they are expected to be docked and to show cause why they have continued, in flagrant violation of the order of court restraining them from parading themselves as President, General Secretary and Publicity Secretary (North) of ANA. The next adjourned date is 3rd November, 2022.


Speaking on yesterday's ruling, the immediate past 

National Legal Adviser of the association who is also a counsel to the claimants, Mr Isaac Ogezi said: "the ruling is a welcome development. It is expected that if Messrs Ukah, Ortserga and Yogiza fail to show causes on the next adjourned date, then orders shall be made for their terms in prison for their contempt of the honourable court, of which there is more than enough evidence of Contempt againt the court. It is also expected that if any one among them shall refuse to appear in court on the adjourned date, then the court may issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the one who refuses to attend the contempt proceedings.

Counsel for the claimants were Isaac A  Ogezi Esq. and Ikeazo Igbokwe, Esq., while  D. K. Iorhemba Esq. and J. B. Ifer Esq appeared for the defendants.

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