An Abuja division of the court of appeal has stopped the warrant to arrest issued on chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
The order for Yakubu’s arrest was made by Justice Stephen Pam of the Federal High Court last week.
But reprieve came Yakubu’s way when a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Abdul Aboki suspended the enforcement of the arrest warrant in a ruling it delivered on Monday.
Yakubu had appealed the earlier order on his arrest by Justice Pam.
Justice Aboki submitted that it will be prejudicial for the trial court to proceed with hearing of the matter scheduled for Tuesday, August 14, since the matter has been adjourned to September 17, for hearing of the main appeal.
“Consequently, the panel unanimously ordered the stay if proceeding penning the hearing of Prof Mahmood’s appeals,” Justice Aboki said.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, August 8, ordered Nigeria’s inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, Yakubu, to court for refusing to obey a valid order court.
Justice Pam had on July 5 ordered Yakubu to appear before him to show cause why he should not be sent to prison for contempt of court but five days later, on July 10 when the court sat again, Yakubu did not show up with his counsel, Adeboyega Awomolo.