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NRC Boss Okhiria Jailed For Three Months For Court Contempt

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NRC MD Fidet-Okhiria (Photo Credit: NAN)

An High Court Judge in Lagos has sent to jail the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria jailed for three months over contempt.

The Judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, ruled that the Director should be sent to jailed following his perpetual refusal to appear in court despite several summons.

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” I have looked at the various affidavit placed before the court and have examined the papers filed from both sides. The contemnor in particular continued to disobey the order of the court. Even if he did not have the notice between February, till date, he was supposed to have been guided by his lawyer. He has not given reason to disobey the court order. He treated the court order with levity. I am left with no option than to convict him.

“I hereby sentence him to three months imprisonment,” Justice Olatoregun declared.

He ordered that Okhiria should be left in the custody till September 25, 2018 when the case will continue.

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The court had insisted that Okihiria should show up at the trial, despite the fact that his lawyer informed the court that he was outside of the country on an assignment.

In a suit filled against him by the former employee of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Mr Benedict O. Iheakam, the trial judge had on February 15, 2018 threatened to order the arrest of Mr Okhiria for his persistent refusal to appear before the court

Iheakam had approached the court through his counsel, Mr Johnson Esezobo (counsel to judgement creditor) asking for an order committing to prison, the MD of the NRC,and the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Canise Oklahoma for alleged refusal to comply with a 14 year-old court order.

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NAN reports that Justice Dan Abutu had in a suit FHC/L/CS/926/95 ordered Iheakam’s reinstatement and the payment of his entitlements.

Obiorah Emedolibe, secretary to the Corporation averred that “Okhiria travelled out of the country to China on official duty since February. 7,2018 as part of Federal Government team on fund sourcing for the Railway modernisation projects.”

Justice Olatoregun therefore ruled that Okhiria to produce evidence of the journey at the next adjourned date. But he never did.