EFCC Chairman Summoned By Kogi High Court For Alleged Contempt

Ola Olukoyede

OLA Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was directed to appear in court on May 13, 2024 by a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja on Friday.

He was given a deadline by the court to explain why he shouldn't have an order of committal placed against him for allegedly disregarding a ruling.

There will be a contempt case against the EFCC chairman for doing “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” on February 9, 2024, according to the court.

In the interim, while the substantive Originating Motion is being decided, this step was taken.

Despite a court order prohibiting them from doing so while the Originating Motion was being decided, EFCC agents besieged the home of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, as early as 8 a.m. on April 17, 2024, in an attempt to take him into custody.

Justice Jamil's ruling was based on a move ex-parte that Yahaya Bello filed through M.S. Yusuf, Esq., his attorney, asking the court to grant the motion's request to serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with a Form 49 Notice asking him to explain why an order of committal on Olukoyede should not be made.

Judge Jamil approved Yahaya Bello's requests after hearing the arguments made by the applicant's attorney and reviewing the written address's submission and evidence. He also directed that Olukoyede be called before the court to address the contempt allegation.

In his decision in Suit No.: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No.: HCL/190M/2024, Justice I. A. Jamil mandated that “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.

Judge Jamil stated as he gave his ruling regarding the motion on April 25, 2024, “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 the 9th of February, 2024, 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 acts of the Respondent amounts 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 Patern.”' To wit:

“An order of this Honourable Court for the issuance of Form 49 Notice to show cause why 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 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.”