The Federal High Court, Abuja division on Thursday order business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim and three of his firms to publish a notice of committal proceedings against three officials of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for flouting its earlier orders.

The defendants/contemnors are the Managing Director/CEO, Ahmed Lawal Kuru and two Executive Directors – Eberechukwu Uneze and Aminu Ismail.

In the ruling, Justice Okon Abang held that the publication constitutes proper service of Forms 48 and 49 and all other court processes to be issued in the matter.

According to the judge, the order was sequel to the defendants/Contemnors evasion of personal service of Form 48.

The plaintiffs are Jimoh and three companies linked to him – NICON Investment Limited, NICON Insurance Limited and NICON Reinsurance Corporation Plc.

Sule Ikordeme, counsel for the plaintiffs had in a March 18 application, prayed the court to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs. Justice Abang granted the prayers in the ex parte application.

The Judge held: “Having considered that the defendants/alleged Contemnors did not seek leave of court to file the appeal against the interlocutory decision of the court, dated March 9, 2022, the grounds of the appeal are grounds of facts, at best grounds of mixed law and facts.

“Having considered that the defendants/alleged Contemnors did not file a motion staying execution of the order made on March 9, 2022 and appeal per se does not execute as stay of execution.

“Having also considered the facts that the defendants/alleged Contemnors evaded personal service of Form 48.

“Having also considered that where Forms 48 and 49 and other court processes lawfully issued in this matter are published in the national newspapers the alleged contemnor will be served the said Forms 48 and 49.

“Having also delivered its ruling in the open court and its reasoning and conclusions are as contained in the body of the ruling and it is deserving to grant the application.

“It is hereby ordered as follows: That the plaintiff/applicant shall publish Forms 48 and 49 and other court processes to be lawfully issued in this matter in The Nation and The Punch newspapers.”

“That upon publication, its shall constitute proper service of Forms 48 and 49 and all other court’s processes to be issued in this matter the first to 12th defendants and principal officers of the first defendant that were cited for contempt by the court’s Order of March 11, 2022.”