In a bid to ascertain financial accountability and transparency among the political parties in the country, a lawyer has filed a contempt charge against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, for disobeying the court order to publish the account statements of all registered political parties during the 2023 general
In a bid to ascertain financial accountability and transparency among the political parties in the country, a lawyer has filed a contempt charge against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, for disobeying the court order to publish the account statements of all registered political parties during the 2023 general elections.
This was contained in the requisite Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to the Order of the Court filed by an Akure-based lawyer, Femi Emmanuel Esq against INEC, the INEC Chairman, and the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, for disobeying the ruling made of Justice T.B Adegoke of the Akure Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, compelling them to publish an audited account of the political parties in the country.
The lawyer also stated that the court ordered the electoral commission to make copies of the same documents available to him within 14 days of the judgement, by Sections 225(1)-(2) and Paragraph 15(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 89(3), (4), (5), and (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Section 1(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
Mr Femi Emmanuel accused the electoral commission of violating the rule of law, as well as duplicity and complicity in assisting or shielding political parties that violate our electoral laws by receiving dubious funds and possibly using the same process to launder ill-gotten wealth.
To get his justice, the lawyer in the Notice of Consequences, filed on September 11th, 2024 sought “AN ORDER for committal of the 1st Party Cited for Contempt generally to prison, for disobeying the Order of this Court made on 7th April 2024, compelling you to publish the 2021 and 2022 Audited Financial
“AN ORDER for committal of the 2nd and 3rd Parties Cited for Contempt being the directing minds of the 1st Party Cited for Contempt (being an artificial person) to prison for failing, refusing or neglecting to obey the Order of this Court made on 7th April 2024, compelling the 1st Party Cited for Contempt to publish the 2021 and 2022 Audited Financial Statements of all registered political parties in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the 2023 election-related incomes and expenses of all the parties. AND TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that you are all required to attend this Honourable Court on the first mentioned day to show cause, why an Order for your committal should not be made.
Financial transparency in the country’s electoral system has been a contentious issue, with many stakeholders addressing it as political parties have been accused of electoral misconduct, such as vote buying and excessive campaign spending, a tactic used by major parties to intimidate or obstruct minor parties during elections.
As a result, there are financial guidelines for how campaigns and related activities should be carried out in Nigeria to ensure transparency and accountability while avoiding corrupt electoral practices. However, there appear to be financial regulation violations and law enforcement of penalties despite these constitutional provisions and the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022.
