The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Bwari has vacated its earlier order convicting the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and former APGA Chairman, Victor Ike-Oye, for contempt of court.
Justice Mohammed Madugu rescinded the order after the applicants, Otunba Camaru Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha, withdrew their case. Their lawyer, Michael Ajara, informed the court that following the Supreme Court’s November 27, 2024 judgment recognizing Sly Ezeokenwa as APGA’s National Chairman, his clients saw no reason to pursue the matter further.
Previously, the court had convicted Yakubu and Ike-Oye on November 9, 2023, for failing to comply with its May 10, 2023 order recognising Chief Edozie Njoku as APGA’s Chairman. Yakubu later complied, but Ike-Oye appealed and secured a stay of execution.
Justice Madugu praised the applicants for adhering to the Supreme Court’s decision and struck out the case. Chief Njoku, now Chairman of the National Rescue Movement, commended the judge’s courage, saying, “If not for his integrity, I could have been in jail.”
Njoku formally assumed leadership of the NRM on Tuesday.
