ERROR: OPatch failed during prerequisite check. Interim Patch yyyyyyy is holding the lock from this patch xxxxxxx for R12

PROBLEM:

I have problem when try to apply patch:9044638

ERROR:

bash-4.2$ opatch apply

Oracle Interim Patch Installer version 1.0.0.0.64
Copyright (c) 2011 Oracle Corporation. All Rights Reserved..

Oracle recommends you to use the latest OPatch version
and read the OPatch documentation available in the OPatch/docs
directory for usage. For information about the latest OPatch and
other support-related issues, refer to document ID 293369.1
available on My Oracle Support (https://myoraclesupport.oracle.com)

Oracle Home : /appdata/data_appl/apps/tech_st/10.1.2
Oracle Home Inventory : /appdata/data_appl/apps/tech_st/10.1.2/inventory
Central Inventory : /appdata/cloneap2/inst/apps/burklon_testburlaapp/admin/oraInventory
from : /etc/oraInst.loc
OUI location : /appdata/data_appl/apps/tech_st/10.1.2/oui
OUI shared library : /appdata/data_appl/apps/tech_st/10.1.2/oui/lib/ibm_aix/liboraInstaller.so
Java location : /appdata/data_appl/apps/tech_st/10.1.2/jre/1.4.2/bin/java
Log file location : /appdata/data_appl/apps/tech_st/10.1.2/.patch_storage/<patch ID>/*.log

Problems with the lock file
Lock file exists, details are:
Interim Patch 9593176 is holding the lock from this patch 9044638,
probably due to previous unsuccessful operation

ERROR: OPatch failed during prerequisite check.

SOLUTION:

1. Remove patch_locked file.
 

mv $ORACLE_HOME\.patch_storage\patch_locked 
     $ORACLE_HOME\.patch_storage\patch_locked_backup
 

 2. Apply patch again