Court of Appeal Halts Contempt Charge Against EFCC Chairman

A panel of justices at the court of appeal in Abuja has ordered a stay of proceedings in the contempt charge brought by Yahaya Bello, former Kogi governor, against Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The order came after a Kogi state high court, presided over by Isa Jamil Abdullahi, had summoned Olukoyede to appear before it on May 13 regarding allegations of disobeying a court order restraining the EFCC from taking any action against Bello.

Olukoyede, however, filed two motions with the appellate court, one seeking a stay of execution of the summons and another to serve processes on Bello via substituted means by posting them at his Abuja residence.

In a ruling on Friday, May 3, a three-member panel of justices led by Joseph Oyewole granted both motions.

The court has fixed May 20 for the hearing of the substantive appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/413/2024.

News Central reports that Yahaya Bello had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, alleging harassment and interference with his rights.

The Kogi High Court had initially granted an interim injunction against the anti-graft agency’s actions, which was later followed by a substantive order restraining the commission from further harassment.

However, the EFCC, which had obtained a warrant for Bello’s arrest, filed an appeal against the interim injunction, leading to the current legal battle.

The court of appeal’s intervention puts a pause on the contempt charge against the EFCC chairman pending further legal proceedings.