Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa of the 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 Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, Ola Olukoyede for disobeying the ruling of the court directing operatives
of the Commission to vacate a property at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja.
The judge 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,
could not have willfully ignored or disobeyed the order of the court.
Oyedepo further 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”.
He 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 the submissions of Oyedepo.
Responding, Justice Musa stated that “I knew that the
EFCC Chairman was not aware of this, that is why I want the Chairman to come”.
He, thereafter, vacated the order and purged Olukoyede of the contempt
proceedings.
He also adjourned the matter till February 7, 2024 for hearing of the substantive suit.
