The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja yesterday voided its earlier order convicting the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, for contempt.
Recall that Justice Chizoba Oji, had convicted Bawa for contempt of court.
But ruling on an application filed by Bawa, the judge nullified decision of 28 October, which ordered the inspector general of police to arrest the EFCC boss and send him to prison at Kuje Correction Centre in Abuja.
In the application dated 10 November, Bawa cited relevant sections of the Nigerian constitution and procedural laws of the court, urging the judge to quash his conviction.
Ruling on the request, Oji said she was satisfied that the EFCC Chairman did not disregard the court’s orders, asking him to release seized assets belonging to a retired air force officer, Mr. Rufus Ojuawol.
She held that evidence before her showed Bawa had complied with the court’s order, directing the EFCC to return a Range Rover Sport vehicle valued at N40 million, which it confiscated from Ojuawo.
“I hereby set aside the entire contempt proceedings in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria v AVM Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo.
“That I further set aside the conviction of the applicant, the executive chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for contempt unconditionally,” she said.
The EFCC had in a statement on Tuesday explained that it had released the Range Rover car to the applicant on 27 June 2022, and was in the process of releasing the remaining N40 million.
Also faulting the chairman’s conviction, the commission had said that he was not served with Forms 48 and 49 required to commence contempt proceedings.
