Court slams warrant of arrest on publisher of Nigerian Concord

A Makurdi High Court, presided over by Justice Aondover Kakaan, has last Friday, issued a warrant for arrest of the publisher of the Nigerian Concord, Mr. Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi, for disobeying the court’s judgment, and evading service of court processes.

Justice Kakaan issued the order while ruling on the motion filed by Mr. Andrew Wombo, Counsel to the Governor of Benue State, seeking to serve form 48 (notice of consequences of disobedience) on the publisher through substituted means, as he is evading service, and has disobeyed court judgment.

In his ruling, Justice Kakaan held that from the evidence before him, Abiodun Oluwarotimi was aware of the judgment of the court and was only disobeying orders of the court and avoiding service of court processes.

He ordered the Nigeria Police Force to arrest Mr. Abiodun and bring him to court to give reasons for his disobedience and why he should not be sent to prison for contempt.

Wombo said the arrest warrant on Oluwarotimi was in order, adding that the court had no alternative than to issue the warrant, as Mr. Abiodun had continued with his libelous publications, even after the judgment on November 6, 2017.