Yahaya Bello: Twist As Kogi Court Orders EFCC Chair To Appear Over Alleged Contempt

There is a new twist in the ongoing saga between the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC as a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday ordered the Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024.

Olukoyede was directed by the court to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying a court order.

The EFCC chairman, according to the court, faces a contempt charge for carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the court on February 9, 2024.

This action was taken pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.

Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.

The court had restrained EFCC from arresting Bello pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

But EFCC operatives laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, as early as 8 am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite the court order.

Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

Having listened to the arguments of the Applicant’s counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Yahaya Bello’s 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.

“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 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 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.”