Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal High Court in Abuja who convicted the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, for contempt has reversed her decision following an appeal.
Driving the news
Justice Oji reverted the decision on the premise that Bawa was not in contempt of the court at the time she gave her initial judgement. Fresh evidence presented to the federal court in Abuja showed Bawa had already directed the return of the Range Rover Sport vehicle to the applicant.
Why it matters
The initial judgement of the court, convicting the EFCC Boss of contempt, was a stain to the anti-graft agency that needed to be corrected as quickly as possible before it could incur further damage.
In case you missed it
Back in 2016, EFCC had arraigned Ojuawo on two counts before the presiding judge, Justice Muawiyah Idris; for corruptly receiving gratifications of N40 million and a Range Rover Sport from Hima Aboubakar of Societe D’Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited.
Justice Idris in 2018, after a careful consideration of the matter, discharged and acquitted the defendant on the premise that the EFCC had no proof of its allegations. The court further ordered the prosecution, EFCC, to return the defendant’s properties to him.
The EFCC failed to comply with the court ruling, compelling the acquitted defendant to file a motion against the anti-graft agency of which the presiding judge, Justice Chizoba Oji held that the EFCC boss should be committed to Kuje prison until he purges himself of the contempt.