Contempt: EFCC Chairman Says Judgment Against Him Appealed

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Tuesday revealed that the Agency has appealed the contempt of court rulings against him by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

Addressing journalists on the sidelines of budget defence at the House of Representatives, Bawa said, “Well, we have appealed against it, so we allow the natural course of law to take its effect.”

It would be recalled that the court, presided over by Justice Chizoba Oji had directed that Bawa committed to Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja for contempt of court.

The judge arrived at the decision in relation to his agency’s failure to comply with an earlier order of the court.

In handing down her ruling, Justice Oji held that the Commission’s Chairman is in contempt of the order of the court made on November 21, 2018, directing the Commission to return to an applicant, his Range Rover (supercharge), and the sum of N40 million.

The judge equally directed that Bawa be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, as a result of his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order until he purges himself of the contempt.

Justice Oji equally directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, to ensure that the order of the court is executed forthwith.

The arguments put forward by the lawyer to the EFCC, Francis Jirbo, to justify his client’s action, were also rejected by the court.

The ruling delivered on October 28, a Certified True Copy (CTC) which was sighted by Channels Television, was on a motion on notice filed by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, a one-time Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Ojuawo had, in the motion, complained that the EFCC declined to comply with the order for the release of his seized property, made by the court in a judgment delivered on November 21, 2018.

All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.

Contact: thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492.