Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae of the Abuja division of the National Industrial Court (NICN) has awarded N750,000, damages against Dr. Shaibu Hussaini and Barrister Hasina Nasir, both the Executive Director (ED) and Head of Legal Services of the National Films and Video Censor Board (NFVCB), for flagrant and continue disobedience to the court orders.
The judge awarded the fine against Dr. Hussaini and Barrister Nasir, due to their failure to appear before the court on Wednesday as ordered by the court.
Both Dr. Hussaini and Barrister Nasir, are currently facing contempt suit before the court in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/389M/2023.
The two alleged contemnors were cited for contempt for flagrant disobeying the order of the court made sometimes in December 2023.
Justice Obaseki-Osaghae had at the last hearing of the matter, ordered the two alleged contemnors to appear before the court on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to purge themselves of the contempt allegations.
Justice Obaseki-Osaghae had on December 13, 2023, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Dr. Anjorin Olushola Peace challenging his unlawful sack, made the following declarations and orders: “declared that the procedure that led to the dismissal of Dr. Olushola Peace Anjorin, by the National Film and Video Censors Board and the Senior Management Committee is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect being in contravention of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”
The Court also granted an order of an Injunction restraining the National Film and Video Censors Board, CEO, their servants and/or agents from preventing Mr. Olushola from performing the functions and duties as Assistant Director, Operations or from interfering with his enjoyment of the rights, privileges and benefits attached to the said office.
The court had further ordered Dr. Anjorin’s immediate reinstatement as Assistant Director on Grade level 15, with all the rights and privileges. While also ordered the NFVCB and its CEO, to immediately release the 2018 promotion of Dr. Olushola Peace Anjorin, to Assistant Director in the Department of Operations on Salary Grade level 15 and pay him the difference in salary and emoluments and the outstanding balance of N600, 000.00, being his baggage and passage allowance upon his transfer to Abuja.
The court also directed the board to pay his salaries, allowances and all other entitlements due to him when his salary and allowances were wrongfully stopped from August 2018 till date.
However, while the orders subsists, the alleged contemnors, flagrantly failed and refused to obey the orders as directed by the court.
Consequently, the judgment creditor/applicant, Dr. Olushola through lawyer, Professor J. O. Amupitan (SAN) filed both Forms 48 and 49 against the alleged contemnors.
At the hearing of the contempt proceeding on Wednesday, Professor Amupitan (SAN) appeared for the judgment creditor, Dr. Olushola Peace Anjorin, while Barrister John Ode, who told the court that he was holding the brief of Barrister M. O. Onyemeluke, counsel to the alleged contemnors, Dr. Hussaini and Barrister Nasir.
Barrister Ode, upon being questioned the judge of the whereabouts of the alleged contemnors, the lawyer who was unable to give satisfactory response to the judge’s questions, however assured and promised the court that the two contemnors will be brought to court on the next day.
Responding, counsel to the judgment creditor, Prof Amupitan (SAN), expressed dismay on the alleged contemnors’ flagrant disobedience to the orders of the court. Adding that the board, it’s ED and head of legal are bent on frustrating the court’s judgment.
He therefore asked the court to award a punitive cost against the alleged contemnors.
The judge who was furious with the attitude of the alleged contemnors, mentioned that the alleged contemnors in a bid to render the court’s orders nugatory and pervert course of justice, wrote a petition the the court President of the court.
The judge, while adjourning the matter to February 27, award a punitive N750, 000, damages against the alleged contemnors, jointly and severally.
The judge ordered that the alleged contemnors must pay the award sum on or before the adjourned date.
