Yahaya Bello: Court Summons EFCC Chairman Over Alleged Contempt

A High Court in Kogi State has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024.

Gatekeepers News reports that the order was issued on the grounds of his alleged disobedience of a court order, which led to a contempt charge.

The EFCC Chairman is accused of carrying out certain acts that had been restrained by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.

Justice I. A. Jamil, presiding over the case, ruled that the act carried out by the EFCC was in violation of the order and amounted to contempt.

The EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on April 17, 2024, despite a court order restraining them from such action.

The court’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello, where he prayed to the court for an order to issue and serve the EFCC Chairman with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

After listening to the arguments of the Applicant’s counsel, Justice Jamil granted the prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer 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.”