Court Fixes Feb. 19 For Hearing Contempt Suit Against NFVCB’s DG, Other

The Abuja division of the National Industrial Court (NICN) has fixed February 19, 2025, for hearing of contempt proceeding suit filed against two officials of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).

The two NFVCB’s officials to be prosecuted for contempt are: Dr. Shaibu Hussaini and Barrister Hasina Nasir, both NFVCB’s Executive Director (ED) and Head of Legal Services respectively.

The two officials were slammed with the contempt suit by Dr. Olushola Peace Anjorin, due to their continued failure to obey orders of the court to reinstate him and pay him some damages.

The court presided by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae had on December 13, 2023, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Dr. Olushola 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 further ordered 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.

In the both forms 48 and 49, had asked the leave of the Court to summon Dr Shaibu Hussaini, Executive Director of the 1st defendant/judgment debtor/respondent and Hasina Nasir Esq, Head, Legal Services of the 1st defendant/judgment debtor/respondent, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them for disobeying the judgment and order of Court dated December 15, 2023, in not reinstating the claimant/judgment creditor/applicant back to National Film and Video Censors Board.

He also asked the court for such further order(s) as the Court may deem fit to make in this circumstance.

But the alleged contemnors through their lawyer, M.O. Onyilokwu, told the court that they have filed notice to appeal the judgment.

Justice obaseki-Osaghae, in her judgment on the parties submissions, held that: “leave is granted to the judgment creditor/applicant to proceed against two Principal Officers of the 1st Judgment Debtor: Dr Shaibu Hussaini, Executive Director; and Hasina Nasir Esq, Head Legal Services to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them for disobeying the order of this Court dated 15 December 2023, in not reinstating the Claimant/Judgment Creditor/Applicant to National Film and Video Censors Board (the 1st defendant/judgment debtor/respondent).

“Leave is granted the judgment
creditor/applicant to summon Dr Shaibu Hussaini, Executive Director of the 1st defendant/judgment debtor/respondent and Hasina Nasir Esq, Head Legal Services of the 1st defendant/judgment debtor/respondent to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them for disobeying judgment and Order of this Court dated 15th December, 2023, in Not reinstating the Claimant/Judgment Creditor/Applicant back to National Film and Video Censors Board (the 1st Defendant/Judgment Debtor/Respondent).”

There judge thereafter adjourned the matter to February 19, 2025, for hearing of the committal proceedings against the two alleged Contemnors.