Justice Benjamin Lawan Manji of the Yola High Court in Adamawa State has ordered the imprisonment of M. K. Tijjani, lawyer to the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hudu Ari Yunusa, for contempt of court.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded during a court sitting on Thursday when Tijjani displayed what the judge described as gross disrespect and misconduct. The lawyer, who had previously represented Yunusa, refused to announce his appearance when the case was called, deliberately turning his face away from the judge.
When pressed to identify himself, Tijjani responded defiantly, stating that he was not a party to the case and had only held the brief of another counsel in the previous sitting. His dismissive tone and conduct infuriated the court, prompting Justice Manji to order him to remove his robe and step into the witness box to explain why he should not be held in contempt.
Even in the witness box, Tijjani maintained his defiant stance, further aggravating the court. The judge, unimpressed by his behavior, found him in contempt and ordered his immediate remand at the Yola Correctional Centre.
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This is not the first time Tijjani has clashed with the court. During a previous hearing on January 23, 2025, he attempted to record the proceedings on his mobile phone, an action the judge swiftly halted. However, instead of complying, Tijjani openly challenged the judge, arguing that no law prohibits lawyers from recording court proceedings with their phones. His defiant posture only subsided after the prosecution’s lead counsel, Chief L. D. Nzadon, intervened and urged the judge to exercise patience.
Tijjani’s latest confrontation with the court has sparked reactions in legal circles, with many viewing his imprisonment as a strong message on the consequences of courtroom misconduct. Legal analysts believe this ruling underscores the judiciary’s intolerance for disruptive behavior, especially in high-profile cases like that of the embattled INEC official, Hudu Ari Yunusa.
