Atiku’s son to be arrested for flouting court order
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Upper Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja, has issued an order authorising the arrest of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, son to Nigeria’s ex-Vice President, over his failure to comply with the court’s ruling.
The presiding judge, Hon. Bashir Danmaisule, gave the ruling in Abuja on Thursday.
The court had, in a ruling last month, ordered Abubakar to hand over his three sons from his marriage to Maryam Sherif to their mother following their divorce.
This was after Sherif filed a suit at the Upper Area Court last year, asking the court to grant her custody of her sons.
Abubakar had refused to comply with the order, prompting the defence counsel, Nasir Saidu, to file a motion praying the court to summon the defendant explain his disregard for the court’s ruling and why he should not face jail time.
Saidu submitted that, having served the defendant who was absent, the court ought to issue an order for his arrest.
He contended that the defendant (Abubakar) had repeatedly flouted the court’s order to bring along the children when there is a ruling, adding that the defendant would only comply if the court invoked its powers.
The judge, Hon. Danmaisule, accepted the plaintiff’s submission, saying the court had no choice but to order the defendant’s arrest — especially after he disregarded the notice of hearing served on him.
The judge said the court acted based on the provision of Section 26 of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Area Courts (Repeal and Enactment) Act 2010.
