…“The IG of Police shall ensure the order is executed forthwith,” the judge rules
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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been committed to prison for contempt of court in reaction to his agency’s failure to comply with an earlier order of the court.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, presided by Justice Chizoba Orji, in committing him, ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall ensure the order is executed forthwith.
Justice Chizoba Orji, in the ruling, held that “the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission “is in contempt of the orders of this Honourable Court made on November 21st, 2018 directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja to return to the applicant, one Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, a former Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), his Range Rover (Super Charge) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira).
“Having continued wilfully in disobedience to the order of this court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order of court made on November 21st, 2018, until he purges himself of the contempt.
“The Inspector General of Police shall ensure that the order of this Honourable Court is executed forthwith,” the judge ruled.
Justice Orji rejected the arguments advanced by the lawyer to the EFCC, Francis Jirbo, to justify his client’s action.
The ruling being pooh-poohed by the EFCC Chairman was delivered on October 28, on a motion on notice marked: FCT/HC/M/52/2021 filed by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo.
Ojuawo had, in the motion filed by his lawyer, R.N. Ojabo, in a suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 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./SHARE THIS
–Tags: Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC, AVM Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo