Ustice Mohammed Madugu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Bwari revoked his previous ruling on Wednesday that found former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairman Victor Ike-Oye and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in contempt.
At the request of the applicants, Otunba Camaru Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha, Justice Madugu revoked the order.
Remember how the court found that Yakubu and Oye had disregarded his prior order from May 10, 2023, requiring them to acknowledge Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA? On November 9, 2023, the court found them guilty of contempt of court.
On July 11, 2024, however, the INEC head notified the court—through his attorney, Ahmed Mohammed—that he had followed with the directive by acknowledging Njoku as the National Chairman of the APGA.
On the other hand, Oye filed an appeal and requested a stay of the lower court’s order, refusing to follow the order. As a result, the court postponed his scheduled sentencing until January 22, 2025.
Additionally, keep in mind that on November 27, 2024, the Supreme Court issued a ruling acknowledging Sly Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of the APGA before to the rescheduled sentencing date.
Michael Ajara, the applicants’ attorney, brought up the Supreme Court’s November 27, 2024, ruling on the subject when the case was brought up for hearing on Wednesday. He also mentioned that his clients had made the decision to drop the complaint.
In a brief decision, the court struck out the case, granted the application, and dismissed the previous committal order.
Ajara gave the following explanation of his clients’ stance: “Being law-abiding, our clients have since stated their willingness to abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter.
They decided there was no point in pursuing this case any further, so they told us to withdraw it, which we did.
The judge agreed with us after finding justification for the actions we performed.
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Chief Njoku praised Justice Madugu’s handling of the matter while in court with a few high-ranking officials from his new party, the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
He characterized the judge as a brave and industrious man who showed bravery when it counted most.
“The judge here displayed rare courage under the current circumstances of Nigeria,” said Chief Njoku, who officially took over as the National Chairman of the NRM on Tuesday.
We’re asking God to be with him. Had he not exhibited that bravery, I might have ended up behind bars.
“We thank God that our case came before a judge, who has conscience, integrity and can also show courage when necessary,” Njoku added.
