October 16, (THEWILL) – A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has vowed to institute contempt of Court proceedings against the House of Assembly Member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency IV in the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Hon. Selekaye Victor Ben, the acclaimed Chairman of the Party, Dr Dennis Otiotio and other chieftains of the party, who have flouted the January 20, 2023, judgement nullifying the party’s Wards, Local Government Areas and State Congresses of the party in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Yenagoa on Monday, Barr Blankson, while reacting to the claims by the state lawmaker that the case was abandoned, emphasized that Justice I. T. Cocodia delivered a judgement on the matter on January 20, 2023, in favour of his client, Mr Alex Blankson.
Displaying a copy of the court judgement, Blankson said: “I saw on social media yesterday, in fact, last night, a press briefing organised by the purported APC state chairman, led by Dr Dennis Otiotio and Hon Victor-Ben to the fact that there is no pending appeal.
“They said that the case was to stop the party from producing candidates and as that was not achieved, the matter has been abandoned.
“You see, it’s a sad commentary, I’m feeling very sad to hear that from one who is supposed to be an assembly member, who should know the workings of the court.
“The court delivered judgement. Nobody appealed. This is the full judgement and if you permit me, I will read just the last paragraph of the holding of the court, so you know the consequences of the actions that these people have taken.
The last paragraph says: “An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants (APC and co) its privies and or agents from parading any person as a Ward, Local Government and State Party Leaders/Officers in Bayelsa State, pending the determination of Motion on Notice and suit No: YHC/107/2021 is also hereby granted. Dated this 20th of January, 2023.
“So the implication is that there is an existing court judgement and a restraining order barring these persons, including Dr Dennis Otiotio and the entire excos and party officials that was produced by that Congress.
“And so what this means is that they are in contempt. They appealed it and filed for a stay of proceedings and later withdrew the stay of proceedings so if like he said we abandoned the matter, if that is his understanding, that is sad. If you appeal and the respondent does not respond to your appeal it means that whatever you are praying, the court will grant it because there is no counter appeal.
“We have taken steps to institute contempt proceedings against everybody that flouted the judgment. You see when people take laws into their hands as if there is no law, sometimes it’s good to tell the public that there’s actually law, the law actually exists.
“And so when there is a court judgement and you are asked to do a particular thing and you refrain or you decide to do the opposition, the law will take its effect. So for us, we won’t make any further comments on this matter again.”
Barr Blackson also faulted the call by the purported Chairman of the APC, Barr Dennis Otiotio for the State Governors, Gov Douye Diri to call one of his Commissioner to order over his alleged involvement in the crisis, saying such call should be directed to Otiotio and few others who have violated the Court order and allegedly violated the sanctity of the court by attacking the litigant and others who supported the suit against the party.
He said “Talking about perpetuating violence, Otiotio is the number one man to be arrested, you can recall that in 2023 this case was filed before Justice Aganaba and when it was time to deliver judgement, Otiotio mobilised thugs to the court and attacked the judge.
“I was equally there and I was also attacked, it was by the help of other people that I was able to come out of the court. Some of the hoodlums were arrested and taken to court but one of them is still at large.
“So the police are doing their job diligently if people like Otiotio, a senior lawyer could desecrate the court, who is more of a violent person than him. The Commissioner for Power has not done anything, it is on record in this state that a court of law was desecrated because of this matter.
“So when we talk of violence, Otiotio is the one to be arrested and needs to be arrested. I’m challenging him, I have records because the ones that were arrested also told the police how they were mobilised down to the court, so I challenge him to deny it.”
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
