A court ruling by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, to be committed to the Kuje prison over contempt of court.
Driving the news
The court’s judgement convicted the EFCC boss of disobedience to a 2018 court order, ordering the anti-graft agency to return a Range Rover car and the sum of N40 million to the applicant in a suit.
Brief background to the story
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.
What they are saying
The spokesperson of the EFCC, in a recent interview noted that “the commission is appealing the ruling.”