The Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted a stay of proceedings in the contempt case against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede. The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, had filed the contempt charge against Olukoyede for disobeying a court order.
Justice Joseph Oyewole granted the EFCC’s ex-parte motion for a stay of proceedings, allowing the commission to serve processes in the appeal by substituted means on Bello. The court adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20, 2024.
The EFCC chairman had appealed the ruling of the trial court, which summoned him to appear before the Kogi State High Court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt. The trial court had ordered Olukoyede to appear in court for carrying out acts in violation of a subsisting court order.
According to the Kogi High Court, the EFCC boss is facing contempt charges for carrying out “some acts upon which the EFCC have been restrained” by the court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion.
Justice Jamil of the Kogi High Court had ruled that the EFCC’s actions amounted to contempt, as they violated a valid and subsisting court order.With this latest development, the EFCC chairman has been granted a temporary reprieve from the contempt proceedings. However, the case is far from over, as the appeal court will still hear the motion on notice on May 20, 2024.
