Court orders arrest of army chief Faruk Yahaya

A High Court in Minna, Niger State has issued a bench warrant on the chief of army staff General Faruk Yahaya for alleged contempt.

Justice Halima Abdulmalik said the order followed a hearing on motion on notice brought before the court in pursuant of Order 42 Rule 10 of the Niger State High Court Civil Procedure 2018.

The court also ordered the arrest of the commandant, Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Major General Olugbenga Olabanji for a similar offence.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the order is commuting Yahaya and Olabanji to be kept in Minna correctional custody for contentions of the court’s order of October 12, 2022.

According to her, they are to remain in custody until they purge themselves of the contempt.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to December 8 for continuation.

The order comes in the wake of the sentencing of the inspector-general of police Usman Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in November, said the IGP failed to reinstate a dismissed police officer Patrick Okoli despite an order to do so.

In November also, a similar order was given by Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court in Abuja against the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa.