A Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has issued an order summoning the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024. The court’s directive came as a result of ongoing legal proceedings. to appear in court on May 13, 2024.
This directive comes in response to allegations of disobedience to a court order.
Olukoyede faces a contempt charge for allegedly carrying out actions that were prohibited by the Court on February 9, 2024. The Court had issued a restraining order pending the determination of the substantive Originating 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 existing court order by conducting activities prohibited by the order. This action was deemed to constitute contempt of court.
The situation leading to this order stemmed from EFCC operatives’ attempt to arrest the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on April 17, 2024. Despite a court order restraining such actions pending the Originating Motion’s determination, EFCC operatives laid siege to Bello’s residence as early as 8 am.
Justice Jamil’s decision followed a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his legal representative, M.S. Yusuf, Esq. The motion sought an order to serve Olukoyede with a notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him.
After reviewing the arguments presented by Bello’s counsel and examining the attached exhibits in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Bello’s request. Consequently, Olukoyede was summoned to appear before the court to address the contempt charge.
Delivering his order on the motion on April 25, 2024, Justice Jamil said, “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 Patem”. 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.”
