A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has summoned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024. This summons follows allegations of contempt of court.
The EFCC chairman is facing the contempt charge for allegedly disobeying a court order issued on February 9, 2024. The order restrained the EFCC from certain actions pending the determination of a substantive motion.
Justice I. A. Jamil, in a ruling delivered in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, found that the EFCC had violated the court’s order by carrying out actions that were prohibited. This action, according to the ruling, constitutes contempt of court.
The incident leading to this ruling occurred on April 17, 2024, when EFCC operatives besieged the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, with the intent to arrest him. This was despite a court order restraining such actions pending the determination of the Originating Motion.
Yahaya Bello, through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, filed a motion ex-parte, seeking an order to serve the EFCC Chairman with a notice to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court.
Justice Jamil, after considering the arguments and exhibits presented by the Applicant’s counsel, granted Yahaya Bello’s prayers. The court ordered Olukoyede to appear before it to answer the contempt charge.
In delivering the order on April 25, 2024, Justice Jamil emphasized the importance of upholding court orders and ensuring compliance with legal processes.
“That the said act was carried out by the Respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same acts of the Respondent amount to acts of contempt.
“That the Respondent should be summoned to appear before this Court to answer to the contempt charge.
“It’s against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem”. To wit:
“An order of this Honourable Court for the issuance of Form 49 Notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“An order for service of Form 49-Notice to show why an order of committal should not be made on the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at EFCC Corporate Headquarters, Plot 301/302, Research and Institution District, Abuja.
“This matter is adjourned to the 13th of May, 2024 for the Respondent’s Chairman to appear before this Court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him.”
