A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Bwari has annulled the contempt order against Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Victor Ike-Oye, the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
The contempt order, issued on November 9, 2023, by Justice Mohammed Madugu, found Yakubu and Oye guilty of failing to comply with a previous court order that instructed them to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.
However, on Wednesday, Yakubu’s lawyer, Ahmed Mohammed, informed the court that his client had since complied with the order, officially recognizing Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman on July 11, 2024. In contrast, Oye failed to comply and chose to appeal the decision, which caused a delay in his sentencing.
It should be noted that the Supreme Court, in its ruling on November 27, 2024, recognized Sly Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of APGA, further complicating the legal situation.
In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Michael Ajara, the lawyer representing the applicants, Otunba Camaru Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha, requested the termination of the contempt proceedings against Yakubu and Oye. Justice Madugu granted the request, nullifying the earlier committal order and dismissing the case.
Ajara explained that his clients had decided to discontinue the case due to their respect for the Supreme Court’s judgment. He stated that his clients, being law-abiding, had expressed their intention to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling and had no further interest in pursuing the case. The judge agreed with the steps taken by the applicants and granted the request for the case to be struck out.
He said, “Our clients, being law abiding, have since expressed their willingness to abide by the Supreme Court judgment on the issue.
“So, they saw no reason to further pursue this case and instructed us to withdraw it, which we just did.
“The judge saw reasons in the steps we took and agreed with us.”