Abuja market management clarifies alleged contempt proceedings against Wike

The Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML), says the alleged contempt proceedings against the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike at the National Industrial Court does not exist.

AMML Secretary and Legal Adviser, Mr Onya Ojiji, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

“Our attention has been drawn to stories making the rounds in the media that the National Industrial Court has commenced contempt proceedings against the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike and others.

“The contempt is over alleged disobedience of a court order in respect of a matter surrounding the headship of Abuja Markets Management Limited.

“We have been duly informed by our legal counsel and we would like to state categorically that there is no such contempt proceeding against the FCT Minister or any staff of the Abuja Investments Company Ltd (AICL) and AMML at the National Industrial Court,” he said.

Ojiji explained that the suit referred to in the publication has been reassigned to another judge and would commence afresh.

“This means that there is no order being disobeyed and nobody is in contempt to warrant contempt proceedings,” he added.

He, therefore, urged the public to disregard the information, stressing that the said disobedience to court orders does not exist since the suit would commence afresh.

Recall that Wike had on Sept. 27, relieved heads of 21 parastatals, agencies, and government companies of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of their appointments.

The contempt charge was filed by Alhaji Faruk Abubakar, who was affirmed by the court as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AMML.

The contempt proceeding was against the allegation that the minister and others are acting in disobedience to the orders of the industrial court made on July 20.

The orders restrained them from giving effect to the purported letter of termination of the employment of Abubakar as the AMML’s MD.

The suit also joined FCTA, AMML and AICL as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively, including the former acting MD of AMML, Mr Yakubu Abbas.