The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered Hon. Justice M.A Madugu of the FCT High Court to stay further proceedings in the contempt case against the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and Dr Victor Ike Oye, the former National Chairman of APGA pending the determination of the Appeal filed by Dr Victor Ike Oye.
The Court also restrained the applicants from proceeding with the contempt proceedings before Justice Madugu pending the hearing and determination of the Appeal by Dr Victor Ike Oye.
The Court of Appeal descended heavily on the conduct of Hon. Justice Madugu and wondered the wisdom and rationale behind Hon. Justice Madugu insisting on proceeding with the contempt proceedings when he is fully aware that an appeal has been duly filed and entered at the Court of Appeal since 27th June , 2023.
The Court categorically held that the action of Hon. Justice M. A Madugu proceeding with the contempt application in the face of a pending appeal amounted to Judicial impertinence.
With the orders of the Court of Appeal today, Hon.Justice M.A Magudu has therefore, been stopped from further proceeding with the contempt or threatened sentence of the INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and Dr Victor Ike Oye fixed for Wednesday 29th November, 2023.
Reacting to the development, APGA’s National Legal Adviser, Victor Agunzi Esq., said, “We have always known by law, that all that was done before Hon. Justice Madugu of the FCT High Court in the face of a superior Court Judgment on the leadership of APGA would ultimately be set aside”.
“The timely intervention by the Court of Appeal to stop Hon. Justice Madugu from proceeding signifies adherence to the rule of law. It is a victory for the respect of the rule of law and adherence to the doctrine of stare decisis.”
“We therefore, call on all well meaning members of APGA and the general public to henceforth disregard the shenanigans by Edozie Njoku and his co travellers and their persistent blackmail against the National Chairman of INEC.”