In a significant legal development, the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has mandated the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Adedamola, to apprehend Henry Edet Unung, a father of three, and remand him in the Uyo Correctional Centre for a month.
This stern action comes in response to Unung’s persistent failure to fulfill his parental responsibilities towards his own children.
The court, presided over by Justice Ntong Ntong, issued this order while delivering a ruling on a case brought before it by the respondent’s wife and mother of the three children.
Justice Ntong emphasized that the court had previously directed Unung to pay a monthly maintenance allowance of N20,000, in addition to providing essential food items and covering the children’s school fees and medical needs.
Recalling the court’s previous attempts to enforce compliance, Justice Ntong described Unung’s conduct as “satanic” and a blatant contempt of the court’s orders.
Despite prior warnings and reminders, the respondent consistently refused to adhere to the court’s directives.
Justice Ntong highlighted, “The right of a court to punish whoever disobeys its orders is inherent and legitimate,” asserting that such power should be used sparingly.
He emphasized the importance of making the respondent realize the gravity of neglecting the welfare of his own children.
In light of these circumstances, Justice Ntong ordered the police to detain Unung in prison custody for one calendar month before his appearance in court to address and rectify the contempt.
This action aligns with Section 1 of the Child Rights Law 2008 of Akwa Ibom State, which mandates decisions involving children to be made in their best interests.
The case is set to reconvene on Thursday, 28th March 2024, marking a critical step in ensuring the well-being of the neglected children and upholding the authority of the court.
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