The Federal High Court located in Warri has issued a formal Form 48 – Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order against Delta State’s Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole SAN.
The notice cautioned of possible imprisonment for contempt of court due to claims of procedural misconduct in the ongoing criminal case against child rights advocate, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, referenced as Charge No: FHC/WR/92C/2022 – Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.
Dated June 13, 2025, and signed by the Court Registrar, the contempt notice was initiated by a formal complaint submitted by Aghogho.
The complaint stated that the Delta State Ministry of Justice, represented by prosecutor J.A. Amahi Esq., presented an unfiled and unauthorized letter titled “Further Update on Verification Report in FHC/WR/92C/2022 FRN vs. Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho” to the Deputy Chief Registrar.
This unfiled document, dated April 8, 2024, was read aloud in the courtroom on April 18, 2024, despite it not being formally submitted, stamped, or entered in the court’s official records.
The Court’s directive includes the following: “Take notice that unless you comply with the instructions contained in the ruling of this Honourable Court or refrain from any action that disrupts the proper administration of justice in Charge No: FHC/WR/92C/2022, you will be guilty of contempt of court and may be sentenced to imprisonment.”
The issue originates from a previous court order issued on March 21, 2024, wherein the Federal High Court instructed the prosecution to provide a verification report regarding the residence of the Defendant’s surety, Mr. Phillip Biakpara.
While the first report was appropriately filed, the subsequent “further update” from April 8 was not properly submitted and bypassed the standard procedures of the court registry, raising concerns about procedural violations.
The Court characterized the event in this manner: “In defiance of the order of this Honourable Court… this Honourable Court received an unfiled verification titled ‘Further Update on Verification Report in FHC/WR/92C/2022 dated 8th April 2024’ via the Deputy Chief Registrar.”
It further stated that “such actions, given their nature and implications, represent an unlawful effort to interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings, mislead the court, and usurp the duties of the registry of this Honourable Court, thereby showing flagrant disrespect for the judicial process.”
The Attorney-General has been explicitly cautioned against further acts of contempt and urged to take immediate measures to remedy the disobedience.
The court emphasized that failure to comply will lead to committal proceedings and potential imprisonment.
This judicial action signifies a crucial moment in the state-sponsored sensitive case regarding Aghogho, a human rights advocate who has asserted that the criminal charges against him are a direct result of his whistleblowing efforts aimed at exposing child trafficking networks and irregular adoption practices allegedly conducted by the Delta State Government.
The Federal High Court has scheduled June 16 to continue the hearings on this matter.The Federal High Court located in Warri has issued a formal Form 48 – Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order against Delta State’s Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole SAN.
The notice cautioned of possible imprisonment for contempt of court due to claims of procedural misconduct in the ongoing criminal case against child rights advocate, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, referenced as Charge No: FHC/WR/92C/2022 – Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.
Dated June 13, 2025, and signed by the Court Registrar, the contempt notice was initiated by a formal complaint submitted by Aghogho.
The complaint stated that the Delta State Ministry of Justice, represented by prosecutor J.A. Amahi Esq., presented an unfiled and unauthorized letter titled “Further Update on Verification Report in FHC/WR/92C/2022 FRN vs. Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho” to the Deputy Chief Registrar.
This unfiled document, dated April 8, 2024, was read aloud in the courtroom on April 18, 2024, despite it not being formally submitted, stamped, or entered in the court’s official records.
The Court’s directive includes the following: “Take notice that unless you comply with the instructions contained in the ruling of this Honourable Court or refrain from any action that disrupts the proper administration of justice in Charge No: FHC/WR/92C/2022, you will be guilty of contempt of court and may be sentenced to imprisonment.”
The issue originates from a previous court order issued on March 21, 2024, wherein the Federal High Court instructed the prosecution to provide a verification report regarding the residence of the Defendant’s surety, Mr. Phillip Biakpara.
While the first report was appropriately filed, the subsequent “further update” from April 8 was not properly submitted and bypassed the standard procedures of the court registry, raising concerns about procedural violations.
The Court characterized the event in this manner: “In defiance of the order of this Honourable Court… this Honourable Court received an unfiled verification titled ‘Further Update on Verification Report in FHC/WR/92C/2022 dated 8th April 2024’ via the Deputy Chief Registrar.”
It further stated that “such actions, given their nature and implications, represent an unlawful effort to interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings, mislead the court, and usurp the duties of the registry of this Honourable Court, thereby showing flagrant disrespect for the judicial process.”
The Attorney-General has been explicitly cautioned against further acts of contempt and urged to take immediate measures to remedy the disobedience.
Related News:2027: Political group Dennis Otuaro Door 2 Door 4 Bola Ahmed Tinubu (D2D4BAT) launches in Delta
The court emphasized that failure to comply will lead to committal proceedings and potential imprisonment.
This judicial action signifies a crucial moment in the state-sponsored sensitive case regarding Aghogho, a human rights advocate who has asserted that the criminal charges against him are a direct result of his whistleblowing efforts aimed at exposing child trafficking networks and irregular adoption practices allegedly conducted by the Delta State Government.
The Federal High Court has scheduled June 16 to continue the hearings on this matter.
