A Kogi Excessive Courtroom in Lokoja on Friday ordered the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, to seem earlier than it on Could 13 for allegedly disobeying its order.
Justice I.A. Jamil of Excessive Courtroom IV gave the order whereas ruling in Go well with No. HCL/68M/2024 and Movement No. HCL/190M/2024, introduced earlier than him by ex-Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
“The stated act was carried out by the respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was legitimate and subsisting after they carried out the act. That very same act of the respondent quantities to contempt, ” the decide pronounced.
EFCC operatives had on April 17 besieged the residence of former Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in a bid to arrest him, regardless of a courtroom order restraining them from taking such motion, pending the willpower of the originating movement.
Justice Jamil’s order was primarily based on a movement ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello via his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, asking for an order to challenge and serve the respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Kind 49 Discover to indicate trigger why Order of Committal shouldn’t be made on Olukoyede.
The decide, after listening to the arguments of the applicant’s counsel, the submission and the displays connected to the written deal with, granted Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to seem earlier than the courtroom to reply the contempt cost.
“The applicant’s utility earlier than me is to the impact that the respondent had carried out some acts upon which they’ve been restrained by this courtroom on Feb. 9, pending the willpower of the substantive movement on discover earlier than this courtroom.
“That the stated act was carried out by the respondent in violation of the order, which was legitimate and subsisting after they carried out these acts. That very same act of the respondent quantities to behave of contempt.
“It’s towards the above information that this Courtroom hereby grants the prayers sought according to the precept of “Audi Extremely Patem” (hearken to the opposite aspect).
“This matter is adjourned to Could 13 for the respondent’s chairman to seem earlier than this courtroom in reply to Kind 49 ordered to be served on him,” the decide stated.
