News

Contempt of Court: Enugu Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital MD, Health Minister face jail terms

Published

2 months ago

April 18, 2026

Spread the love

A contempt proceeding has been initiated against Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health over alleged disobedience to a court order.

Also joined as contemnor is the Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr Unaogu Ngozika.

The duo are said to have disobeyed an order of court which ordered the immediate reinstatement of Prof Monday Igwe as the Medical Director.

A judgement of the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, had nullified the appointment of Dr. Unaogu as the Medical Director of the Hospital and ordered the reinstatement of Prof. Monday Igwe as the Medical Director following the declaration that the earlier termination of his appointment is null and void.

Recall that Justice E. D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, had on 11th December 2025, delivered a judgment in which he ordered the reinstatement of Prof. Monday Igwe to office as the Medical Director after he declared the earlier termination of his appointment as null and void and also nullified the later appointment of Dr. Unaogu Ngozi.

The court found that the termination of Prof. Monday Igwe’s appointment did not follow laid down disciplinary procedure.

It also held that the appointment of Dr. Unaogu Ngozi during the pendency of the suit in which she was a party rendered it a nullity.

However, several months after the judgement was served on the Defendants, they have refused to comply with the judgment orders.

Lawyer to the plaintiff, Mr. Michael O. Okorie, Esq, had told the court that Ngozi Unaogu “has continued to perform the functions of office, including awarding contracts, bank transactions, staff appointments and other official functions despite her appointment having been declared a nullity with the legal effect that contractors and bankers dealing with her are doing such at their own peril, especially as the said judgment has not been stayed by any order for stay of execution.”

Okorie has consequently filed and served Form 48-Notice of consequence of disobedience of court orders-against the Minister of state, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Unaogu, the Medical Director.

According to the lawyer, “the Minister of State is the supervising minister who issues/conveys/signs appointment letters to the Medical Director of the Hospital on behalf of the President.

“It is time for the Minister of State to reassess his legal team at the Ministry so that they do not end up misleading him into running foul of the law which he has sworn to protect as public servant.”

Meanwhile, court documents obtained by our correspondent show that the contempt proceeding was initiated pursuant to Order IX, Rule 13(1-3) of the Judgment (Enforcement) Rules, Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004, Order 63 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure).

“TAKE NOTICE that unless you obey the directions contained the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division delivered on the 11th December, 2025 which declared null and void the termination of appointment of the Applicant, Prof. Monday Igwe, nullified the appointment of DR. UNAOGU NGOZICHUKWU NNEKA as the MEDICAL DIRECTOR, FEDERAL NEUROPSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE, and ordered the re-instatement of Prof. Monday Igwe as the Medical Director of the FEDERAL NEUROPSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE, and also, ordered the payment of the arrears of salary to Prof. Monday Igwe, you will be guilty of contempt of Court and will be liable to be committed to prison. A copy of the said order of court earlier served on you is hereby annexed for your on-the-spot reference.

“This Court has been informed that as at today, Tuesday, 14th April, 2026 that DR. UNAOGU NGOZICHUKWU NNEKA has continued to perform functions of the office of the MEDICAL DIRECTOR, FEDERAL NEUROPSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE while Prof. Monday Igwe has not been reinstated to office in utter disregards to the subsisting orders of this Honourable Court which execution has not been stayed,” the court notice already served on the alleged contemnors read.

Dr Unaogu and her lawyers could not be reached by The Advocate at the weekend to ascertain why she has not vacated the office of the Medical Director as ordered by the Industrial court in Abuja.

which ordered her to vacate the Medical Director of the hospital has not been

PROMISES DELIVERED

News

Enugu Senatorial By-election: Asogwa’s landslide victory affirms APC’s dominance, Says Gov Mbah

Published

37 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Senator-elect, Ikeje Asogwa

Spread the love

…Describes Asogwa as people’s champion

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has congratulated the winner and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday by-election for Enugu North Senatorial District, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, describing the landslide victory as an affirmation of APC’s overwhelming acceptance and dominance in the state’s politics.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, declared APC’s Asogwa winner of the senatorial seat formerly won in 2023 by Labour Party Senator Okey Ezea, who died after an illness in November 2025.

The district covers Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Uzo-Uwani, Igbo-Etiti, and Udenu Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The Returning Officer, Professor Christian Ezeibe, who announced the result in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC office in the LGA, said Asogwa polled a total of 162,360 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nestor Ezeme of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 9,299 votes.

Reacting, Mbah described it as a “statement victory,” noting that the people of the senatorial district had not only made the best choice for quality representation, but had also demonstrated total alignment with the APC.

“On behalf of the Government and good people of Enugu State, I congratulate Chief Ikeje Asogwa on this resounding victory.

“It is a statement and landmark victory both for us as an administration and for the APC as a party.

“If anybody was in doubt, the landslide victory proves, beyond rhetoric, that APC has now emerged as the unquestionable dominant political force across the length and breadth of our state. Our people are fully aligned.

“It is also a vote of confidence in Chief Ikeje Asogwa, a people’s champion, who has distinguished himself in the service of his people and the state.

“There is no doubt that his presence at the centre will strengthen state-federal government partnership and the inflow of dividends of democracy,” he stated.

PROMISES DELIVERED

News

Terrorists burn NSCDC Checkpoint, kidnap resident in Kebbi

Published

41 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Spread the love

Suspected terrorists on Saturday raided Tsamiya, a community in Bagudo Local Government Area of Klebbi, setting ablaze security checkpoint belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a local brothel, and the residence of one Sule Mai Goge.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Commander, SP Bashir Usman, said one Alhaji Yusuf Bazamfare was kidnapped during the attack on the community.

He said following the attack, the Command had deployed tactical personnel to Tsamiya town.

The statement added that a comprehensive investigation into the incident had since commenced, with efforts to rescue the kidnapped victim and track the perpetrators ongoing.

PROMISES DELIVERED

News

Two grandpas arrested for selling illicit drugs to teenage secondary school students

Published

13 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

The suspects

Spread the love

…as NDLEA intercepts illicit consignment from China, Dubai-bound Loud concealed in ladies’ bags

…nabs wanted couple in Ekiti, 75-year-old grandma, others in Oyo raid

An 84-year-old grandpa, Godfrey Orji and 75-year-old Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora are now cooling their heels in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following their arrest for dealing in illicit substances, which they sell to teenage secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia state capital.

Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday 19^th June 2026 following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store located at 4 Club road, Umuahia, where 4.64 kilograms of opioids including tramadol and diazepam were recovered from him during a search of his premises.

In his case, Pa Orji who is a pensioner and also into the illicit drug trade, was nabbed by security guards at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, for supplying illicit drugs to two teenage students (names withheld) in the school. The guards thereafter handed them over to the police who in turn transferred them to NDLEA on Thursday 18^th June.

In his statement, one of the two teenagers, a 15-year-old SS2 student claimed the 84-year-old grandpa supplies him the drugs which he takes and also sells to fellow students. While the two grandpas are billed to have their day in court, the students have been placed on counselling and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have intercepted a consignment of ADB Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a dangerous new psychoactive substance (NPS), at a courier firm in Lagos. The shipment coming from China with a gross weight of 9.5 kilograms was concealed in a carton. This was followed by another seizure on Tuesday 16^th June at a different logistics company in Lagos where 300grams of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis was found hidden in ladies’ handbags.

In another interdiction operation in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Friday 19^thJune raided the home of a wanted drug dealer Lukman Badmus (a.k.a. Lukman Ogombo) in Ogombo area of Ajah where nine bottles of codeine syrup and 30 grams of skunk were recovered.

A swift follow up operation at Lukman’s wife shop in Patey area of Lagos Island led to the recovery of additional two bottles of codeine and drug paraphernalia, while 42 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 22.5kg were also recovered from a mini bus parked in front of her shop. Attempt by the wife, Aisha Saraki, to flush some of the drug exhibits in the toilet during the raid was thwarted by operatives.

In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway on Friday 19^th June intercepted a suspect Tochukwu Onah, 33, coming from Lagos to Abuja with 1.030kg methamphetamine concealed in custard containers, while a couple: James Tony Chukwudi, 48, and James Kehinde, 35, wanted in connection with the seizure of 117 kilograms of skunk since 26th March, 2026 in Ekiti state were eventually arrested at Oniyo street Efon-Alaaye-Ekiti on Tuesday 16th June after months on the run.

In Oyo state, 75-year-old Tudun Olubiyi and two others: Nasiru Buhari, 22; and Buba Musa, 47, were arrested by NDLEA operatives when their house located in Dangote area, Elekara, Oyo town, was raided on Saturday 20th June with 118 jumbo bags containing 1,416kg skunk covered with sawdust recovered.

A suspect Patrick Imoukhede, 45, was arrested on Wednesday 17^th June when NDLEA officers raided the Khagba forest, Ikao, Owan East LGA, where they destroyed 1,744.075kg skunk and recovered already processed 169kg of same substance, while another raid at Ebora Camp, Ilushi in Esan South LGA led to the destruction of 2,424.945kg of cannabis, with a suspect Augustine Anyamone, 45, apprehended with 395kg skunk in a separate operation in the area.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Orun Community Grammar School, Orun Ekiti; Government Girls Secondary School, Charanchi, Bichi, Kano; Federal Technical College, Doma, Nasarawa; Tafida Community Secondary School, Zango, Katsina; and Government Technical College, Onitsha, Anambra, while the Rivers state command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Rumuogba kingdom, Rivers state, HRH Barr. Temple Ejekwu, among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Abia, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kogi, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their laurels.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Sunday 21st June 2026