The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, was directed by a Kogi High Court in Lokoja on Friday, April 26 to come before the court on May 13 and provide justification for why he should not face an order of committal for allegedly defying a court order.
The order was issued by High Court IV Justice I.A. Jamil in the course of deciding on Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No. HCL/190M/2024, which were presented before him by former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello in Lokoja.
“The said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.
“That same act of the respondent amounts to contempt, ” the judge said.
The head of the EFCC is being charged with contempt for allegedly engaging in “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” on February 9 while the court considered the outcome of the substantive originating motion.
The basis for Justice Jamil’s ruling was a motion ex parte that Yahaya Bello submitted via M.S. Yusuf, his attorney.
Bello asked the court for permission to send out Form 49 Notices to the respondent, the EFCC Chairman, asking them to provide justification for why Olukoyede should not be the subject of an Order of Committal.
“The Judge, after listening to the arguments of the applicant’s counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the written address, granted Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.
“The applicant’s application before me is to the effect that the respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this court on Feb. 9, pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice before this court.
“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 act of the respondent amounts to an act of contempt.
“It’s against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem” (listen to the other side).
“This matter is adjourned to May 13 for the respondent’s chairman to appear before this court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him,” the Judge said.
In an attempt to apprehend the former governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, EFCC agents besieged his home on April 17. However, Alhaji Usman Ododo’s convoy quickly escorted him out of the house.
