A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has issued a summons for the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to appear before the court on May 13, 2024.
This order follows allegations of contempt of court leveled against Olukoyede for purportedly disobeying a court order.
Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, expressed concerns over the EFCC’s actions, which allegedly contravened a court order issued on February 9, 2024. The court had restrained the EFCC from certain actions pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.
The contempt charge stemmed from an incident on April 17, 2024, when EFCC operatives besieged the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in an apparent attempt to arrest him. This action occurred despite a court order explicitly forbidding such actions until the Originating Motion was resolved.
The court’s decision to summon Olukoyede was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his legal representative, M.S. Yusuf.
Justice Jamil granted Bello’s request, ordering Olukoyede to appear before the court to address the contempt charge.
In his ruling, Justice Jamil emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, stating that Olukoyede’s actions, in violation of a valid court order, amounted to contempt. The court further directed the issuance of a Form 49 Notice to Olukoyede, compelling him to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him.
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 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.”
