Court Sets Aside Conviction Of Contempt, Order Jailing Chairman Of Nigerian Anti-graft Agency, EFCC, Bawa

By The Evangelist
November 10, 2022

AFederal High Court in Abuja has set aside the contempt proceedings and all the orders of conviction for contempt against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Justice Chizoba Oji set aside the proceedings on Thursday after hearing an application brought by the EFCC Chairman.

The application was brought pursuant to Section 6(6) (a) and Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 91 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, Cap S6 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 and other relevant enactments.

Ruling on a motion on notice filed by the EFCC, asking the court to quash the entire proceedings in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria V AVM Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, and set aside the conviction of the Applicant for contempt, Justice Oji said she found merit in the application in the interest of justice.

”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 ruled.

Justice Oji in a ruling on Tuesday held that Bawa was in contempt of the order of the court made on November 21, 2018, directing the commission to return to an applicant, his Range Rover (super charge) and the sum of N40 million.

She also ordered that the EFCC boss should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre Abuja for his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order until he purges himself of the contempt.

Justice Oji further directed the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to ensure that the order of this court was executed forthwith.

The judge rejected the arguments put forward by the counsel for the EFCC, Francis Jirbo to justify his client’s action.