The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission to appear before it on March 10 over an alleged contempt of court charge filed by the National Rescue Mission (NRM).
The directive was issued on Wednesday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu after lawyers informed the court that the INEC Chairman was absent from proceedings.
Counsel to INEC, Mr. M. S. Bawa, requested an adjournment, explaining that the Commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, was unable to attend due to an emergency.
He also told the court that a counter-affidavit had been filed to challenge the contempt charge and seek its dismissal.
However, counsel to the NRM, Mr. Oladimeji Ekengba, opposed the development and questioned the absence of the INEC boss in court.
“My Lord, this is a contempt charge that requires the defendant to be present in the dock while the proceedings are ongoing. We wonder why he is not here today.”
Justice Egwuatu subsequently ordered that a fresh hearing notice be served personally on the INEC Chairman.
The court had earlier approved substituted service of Form 48, which warns of the consequences of disobeying a court order. The notice was to be delivered to any staff member at INEC’s national headquarters.
The contempt charge arose from a judgment delivered on March 5, 2025. In that ruling, the court directed INEC to recognize the outcome of an emergency convention conducted by the NRM on January 17, 2025.
According to the party, the convention produced a new leadership led by Chief Edozie Njoku and was convened to address leadership vacancies and internal imbalances within its National Executive Committee.
The NRM accused INEC of deliberately ignoring the court’s decision despite being fully aware of the judgment and having been served with the enrolled order.
Party officials were present in court on Wednesday, led by Chief Njoku himself.
After the adjournment, Njoku expressed confidence that the INEC Chairman would eventually obey the court order and formally acknowledge the party’s leadership.
He said the matter was about respect for the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.
Man ends three-month marriage after wife refuses to attend his church
A young couple’s marriage has reportedly crashed just three months after their wedding due to a disagreement over church attendance.
What began as a joyful union soon turned tense when the couple could not agree on where to worship after tying the knot.
According to sources close to the family, the husband had asked his wife to join his church so they could serve and grow spiritually together as one family.
However, she declined, explaining that she was deeply rooted in her church, where she served as the Children’s Department Coordinator.
She reportedly said she had formed strong bonds with the children in her care and couldn’t abandon them.
The husband suggested she could continue in a similar role at his church and possibly even advance further.
Despite his assurances, she refused.
He also expressed concern that being under different doctrines might affect their unity in the long run.
As the disagreement intensified, it reportedly spilled into other areas of their marriage.
Sources claim the wife stopped cooking for him and withheld intimacy as tensions grew.
Both parties eventually reported the matter to their respective pastors.
Efforts were made to mediate the situation, with family members and church leaders holding several meetings.
Her pastor allegedly maintained that she should remain in her church, while his pastor stressed the importance of unity in marriage and encouraged her to join her husband’s congregation.
Despite multiple interventions, neither party was willing to compromise.
With no resolution in sight, the marriage officially ended just three months after it began.
“My husband’s friend’s marriage ended just 3 months after the wedding… because they couldn’t agree on attending the same church.
The husband wanted his wife to join his church after marriage. The wife refused. She was deeply committed to her church and served as a Children’s Department Coordinator.
According to her, she had built a strong bond with the kids and couldn’t walk away from them. The husband suggested she could continue serving in the same department in his church, maybe even grow more there. She declined.
He also expressed concern about being under different doctrines and how it could affect their unity. She still refused. What started as disagreement turned into protest. She stopped cooking. She denied him intimacy.
Both reported each other to their respective pastors. Family members and church leaders tried to mediate.
Her pastor insisted she stay. His pastor emphasized unity in marriage and encouraged her to join her husband. No compromise. No resolution. Three months later, the marriage ended.
Personally, I feel conversations like this should be settled during the talking stage. But sometimes, people will do what they want to do anyway. May we not marry the wrong partner🙏.”
See the viral post below;
Mixed reactions pour in online as man ends three-month marriage after wife refuses to attend his church, see below;
@EknoredaVickky added, “What exactly were they discussing during courtship!? And I personally feel her pastor shld have advised her to follow her husband. It’s as simple as that !”
@nazarose_ commented, “How sad for them! A friend of mine is currently going through hell in a slightly different situation. Her husband is Catholic and she is Pentecostal. She serves in her church, loves to seek counsel from elders and the pastor at her church. She also loves to teach at fellowship. They were friends for two years before they got married and he knew this about her. He proposed to her but she declined because she could not submit to attending Catholic Church with him, which she clearly told him. He agreed that it was fine and they would be attending her church to ensure unity in the marriage. He rededicated his life & attended counselling at her church and even did water baptism according to the Pentecostal doctrine. All of these made her so excited and optimistic for their future. They got married at her church at the end. It was not up to 6 months in the marriage, he had a problem with everything about her church doctrine and her belief. He attends services with her passively and they sit separately in church. Finally he lost interest in attending her church. They are three years in the marriage and he just simply does whatever he feels like on Sundays. Has no regard for any authority and disregards counsel because he feels he knows better than everyone else. My friend laments daily that she was deceived. She has decided to remain in the marriage with the hope that things will get better. I have become a Chief Encourager and Listener. Honestly I pray things get better for her. She doesn’t deserve such life. Marriage is a covenant and only those that abide by the terms and conditions experience genuine bliss. You’re right about marriage being a ministry. Spiritual division crumbles the covenant. Indeed, may we not marry the wrong partner.”
@janeezeji17 wrote, “I keep saying it marry someone who both of you share same beliefs.if na Pentecostal,marry.if is catholic,marry catholic”
@Ade_tobii shared, “Let’s assume they did not have that conversation during courtship (which is wrong, btw). What do you mean her pastor INSISTED she stays? What happened to the pastor guiding them from the word of God?”
@Tennys_fabrics shared, “So during their courtship, they were playing Ludo instead of discussing their plans for marriage.”
@KelechiSpeaks noted, “A well raised woman understands that when marriage comes knocking her door, alot of things will have to be forgone. Location, income, friendly handouts, change of church, change of habitation etc. The example you raised showed clearly she never loved him enough for marriage.”
@_zOmoJesse remarked, “Her pastor failed her. Her mother failed her. The pastor’s wife failed her. She failed herself. If her work causes her to relocate tomorrow and her church is not in the new environment, would she resign or move the church? Nonsense.”
This story ultimately highlights how unresolved foundational differences — especially around faith and expectations — can quietly destroy a marriage if not properly addressed before saying “I do.”
What seemed like a simple disagreement about church attendance gradually exposed deeper issues: pride, inflexibility, poor communication, and possibly misplaced external influence.
Marriage often requires compromise, sacrifice, and unity of purpose.
In this case, both parties stood firmly on their positions, and with neither willing to bend, the relationship broke.
It also raises concerns about the role of third parties — should pastors insist, or should they guide couples toward mutual understanding instead?
Perhaps the biggest lesson here is that conversations about faith, doctrine, roles, and expectations should be clearly settled during courtship — not after the wedding.
