By Lukman Olabiyi
Son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Aminu, who was remanded in custody for contempt, yesterday, regained freedom after returning the children at the centre of a court case to his ex-wife, Fatima Bokori.
The Lagos State Magistrate Court, Tinubu had, yesterday, remanded Aminu in a transit cell for alleged disobedience to an order made on October 11.
The court, in October, had ordered Aminu to produce his son, Amir Atiku, who is a subject of litigation. Aminu allegedly took custody of 8-year-old Amir, from his estranged wife, Fatima Bolori.
When the matter came up yesterday for the discharge of “emergency, evacuation/protection order” made by the court, lawyer to Aminu informed the court that the parties were making plans to settle the matter out-of-court.
Fatima’s lawyer, Nwabuzor Okoh, denied ever receiving any notification or information from the respondent to settle the matter out-of-court.
Following the development, Magistrate Ayeye ordered the remand of Aminu in cell for not producing his son in court, against an earlier order. She consequently stood down the case pending when he boy would be in court.
When Aminu and Fatima divorced in 2011, their children were initially with their mother, with an arrangement that they would be spending vacation with their father.
During one of the school holidays in 2013, Aminu requested that the children be released to him for a trip abroad after which he held onto them, leading to the court case.
Meanwhile, Aminu yesterday regained his freedom. A press statement by Festus Keyamo Chambers said he was released when he returned the children to Fatima.
The statement by Okoh said: “Aminu Abubakar was released from custody and our client, Miss Ummi Bolori, has been reunited with her two children, which were forcefully taken from her by Aminu Abubakar four years ago.”