A Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court on Thursday, January 25, 2024 vacated an earlier order of the court directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede.
The EFCC chairman was earlier ordered to be arrested for disobeying the ruling of the court directing operatives of the Commission to vacate a property at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja.
Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa in his ruling upheld the submission of the EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, that Olukoyede “is an officer of the law and respecter of the rule of law, with fervent commitment towards moving the EFCC towards enhanced professionalism and accountable conducts, who could not have willfully ignored or disobeyed the order of the court”.
The EFCC counsel furher told the court that:
“I am here to assure my Lord that Mr. Ola Olukoyede who is now the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18 October, 2023 and being a legal practitioner of many years at the bar may not knowingly disobey the order of the court”.
Oyedepo then prayed the court to vacate the contempt proceedings against the EFCC’s boss, assuring that all the issues involved between the parties in the suit would be resolved.
Defence counsel, Adeyemi Pitan, did not object to Oyedepo’s submissions.
Justice Musa in his response stated that “I knew that the EFCC Chairman was not aware of this, that is why I want the Chairman to come”.
The judge thereafter, vacated the order, purging Olukoyede of the contempt proceedings.
Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa adjourned the matter till February 7, 2024 for hearing of the substantive suit.
