Rio De Janeiro: A Brazilian appeals court judge on Sunday canceled an order to free jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, rescinding a ruling by another judge on the same court.
Judge Joao Pedro Gebran Neto forbid federal police from abiding by the unexpected earlier ruling allowing the release of the popular leftist Lula, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption.
Leftist firebrand Lula - who was convicted of accepting a seaside apartment as a bribe from Brazilian construction company OAS - has been battling to overturn his sentence in the hopes of making another presidential bid in elections in October.
Judge Rogerio Favreto ruled in favour of several deputies of Lula's Workers' Party who on Friday had submitted a habeas corpus application on the former president's behalf.
On the heels of the ruling, top anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro - who originally sentenced Lula - said the judge did not have the power to secure the leftist's release, declaring the decision "monocratic".
"Lula free now!" read the popular politician's Twitter account, praising "the end of the illegal imprisonment of Lula".
But even if released, Lula - who ruled Brazil from 2003 to 2011, leaving office with sky-high ratings - could see his candidacy invalidated by the South American country's electoral court.
Despite his jailing, Lula has consistently led presidential polls.
He insists he is innocent and has branded the accusations of accepting the apartment as a conspiracy aimed at thwarting his electoral bid.
