Contempt? Court orders arrest of COAS

A High Court Sitting in Minna, Niger State, has issued a warrant of arrest on the Chief of Army Staff, General Faruk Yahaya for contempt.

Also to be arrested include Commandant Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Major General Olugbenga Olabanji for a similar offense.

The presiding judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik said the order followed upon hearing on motion on notice brought before the court in pursuant of order forty two rule ten of the Niger State High Court Civil procedure 2018.

The Judge ruled that the order is commuting Yahaya and Olabanji to be kept in Minna correctional custody for contentions of order of the court on 12 October, 2022.

Justice Abdulmalik said the two suspects are to remain in custody until they purge themselves of the contempt.

She then adjourned the case to December 8 for continuation.

Recall that recently, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja sentenced the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

Also, Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court Abuja in November convicted the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa for contempt and ordered that he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

The judge held that Bawa was in contempt of the order of the court made on November 21, 2018, directing the commission to return to an applicant, his Range Rover and the sum of N40 million.

However, Justice Oji in a subsequent ruling set aside the conviction of Bawa after hearing an application brought by the EFCC chairman.