The High Court of Abia State in Bende Judicial Division has issued bench warrants against several national and state officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for disobeying a court order and failing to appear in court.
On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Justice C.U. Okoroafor ordered bench warrants to be issued against the PDP National Chairman, National Financial Secretary, National Organising Secretary, National Legal Adviser, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as well as the Chairman and Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Abia State, Alwell Asiforo Okere and Kenneth Madubike.
The PDP officials, listed as contemnors, had allegedly shown “a high mark of disrespect and disobedience” to a previous court order made on July 23, 2024 and failed to appear in court without lawful excuse. The court had heard from counsel representing the claimants/applicants Francis Etuzu, Chidindu Kalu Kalu, and Enyinnaya Ogbu, as well as counsel for the defendants/contemnors.
Justice Okoroafor ordered the Commissioner of Police in Abia State to execute the bench warrants to secure the PDP officials’ attendance in court. The contempt proceedings were adjourned to December 17, 2024.