…As Court Commences Contempt Proceedings against them

The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists ,NUJ Comr Alhassan Yahya Abdul and Mr. Ifeanyi Nwanguma, who parades himself as the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council after allegedly being illegally smuggled in alongside Mr. Chris Akaraonye (former chairman), Mr. Eze Adiukwu (South East Vice Chairman of NUJ) and the National President of NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo out of desperate move to criminally sell the Union’s secretariat, are said to be facing possible jail terms.

This follows a move by Imo journalists, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who have approached the High Court in Owerri to commence contempt proceeding against the affected individuals for disobeying court orders.

The High Court in Owerri, in Suit No: HOW/542/2021, had in November last year delivered a judgment dismissing what it described as a kangaroo judgment purportedly and illegally obtained by the said individuals. The court also invalidated all their actions, including the purported election and warned them to stop parading themselves in those capacities.

Notably, on the 5th of December 2025, the Caretaker Chairman of NUJ, Imo State Council, Comr. Precious Nwadike; the immediate past Caretaker Chairman, Steve Uzoeshi and NUJ Chairmanship aspirant, Lambert Ojukwu, on behalf of Imo journalists, filed a case with Suit Nos: HOW/5/2024 and HOW/25M/2024 at the High Court of Imo State, Owerri Judicial Division. They are asking the court to bring to the book the alleged contemnors over what they described as acts of illegality, fraudulence, hooliganism, rascality and disobedience to the NUJ constitution, rule of law and valid court orders.

The applicants urged the court to act swiftly and bring the individuals to justice, stating that they have caused more harm than good to the Union. The Imo State Council lamented that these alleged violators, who they claim are being teleguided by an “aggressive and overzealous” government appointee, are driven by selfish motives to sell NUJ property and undermine journalism in the state.

According to the Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order (Form 48):
“Unless you obey the directions contained in the Order of this Honourable Court dated the 5th day of December 2024, restraining you from conducting, organizing, supervising, or participating in any election of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council, pending the determination of the substantive suit, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be committed to prison.”

The applicants insist that the individuals have continued to undermine efforts by the NUJ to promote fair, objective, factual and investigative journalism in the state.

When contacted, the Chairman of the Union, Comrade Precious Nwadike, stated that the Union had tolerated these “miscreants parading as journalists” for too long.

“At first, we believed we could stop them from using NUJ to deceive the public, but it seems they are confident that Declan Emelumba will always protect them against the law,” he said.

He recalled that the Union nearly ensured Nwanguma’s imprisonment last year for a similar offence, but some journalists loyal to the Imo State Government House pleaded on his behalf. “Prominent among those who intervened for Nwanguma was Collins Osuji, who I heard was also imposed on the Correspondents’ Chapel by the Commissioner,” Nwadike added.

He further explained that Nwanguma was thereafter warned by the current Commissioner of Police never to return to the NUJ Secretariat.

Nwadike stressed that the NUJ is not an extension of the Imo State Government House and urged those in authority to allow the Union to function independently. He added that anyone relying on government protection should remember that “power is transient.”

“We are back in court. We want the court to enforce its order,” he concluded.