Justice I.A. Jamil of the Kogi High Court in Lokoja has summoned Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over an alleged violation of a court order.
Previously, the court had issued an order restraining the EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi. Despite this, the EFCC proceeded to secure a bench warrant from a Federal High Court in Abuja.
This action has sparked controversy, with numerous non-governmental organizations and legal professionals voicing their disapproval of the EFCC’s attempt to arrest Bello in spite of the restraining order.
On April 17th, EFCC agents surrounded Bello’s residence in Wuse, Abuja, intending to arrest him. However, on Friday, Justice Jamil, presiding over High Court IV in Kogi state, issued an order in response to Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No. HCL/190M/2024, filed by Bello. He commanded the EFCC chairman to appear before the court on May 13th, 2024.
Justice Jamil stated that the EFCC’s actions were in direct violation of the court’s order, which was in effect at the time of the violation, constituting contempt. This order was issued in response to a motion ex-parte filed by Bello’s attorney, M.S. Yusuf, who requested an order to serve the EFCC Chairman.
In light of these events, Justice Jamil granted Bello’s request and ordered Olukoyede to appear before the court to respond to the contempt charge. The judge emphasized that the EFCC’s actions were in violation of a valid and subsisting order, amounting to contempt. He granted Bello’s request in accordance with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem” (listen to the other side).
