The hearing of an ex-parte motion for a stay of proceedings filed by the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukayode, against a contempt charge instituted by former Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was stalled on Monday at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
The delay occurred due to a workshop organized by the appellate court, focusing on the review of the 2023 Election Petition Tribunals/Court and Appeals. The two-day workshop began today in Abuja.
Previously, the appellate court had granted an ex-parte motion for a stay of contempt proceedings filed by the EFCC, challenging a Kogi State High Court’s order against its chairman.
The EFCC chair had been summoned to appear before the state’s court on May 13 to explain why he should not be imprisoned for disobeying its orders. He appealed the trial court’s ruling and sought a stay of proceedings.
The EFCC chair is facing a contempt charge for carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the lower court on Feb. 9, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.
Justice I. A. Jamil, in a ruling on Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which is valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.”
The judge held that the EFCC’s act amounted to contempt, having laid siege on the residence of the former governor, as early as 8am on April 17, with a bid to arrest him despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the originating motion.
Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Bello, through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, where he prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why order of committal should not be made on him.
But when the case came up on May 3 before the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, it granted the EFCC’s application to serve the processes in the appeal by substituted means on the former governor.
On May 3, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, granted the EFCC’s application to serve the appeal processes on Bello by substituted means and adjourned the hearing to May 20.
However, due to the workshop, the hearing did not proceed as planned. The registrar informed lawyers and litigants present that the next adjourned date would be communicated to the parties involved.
The registrar stated,“We are holding a workshop, where our judges are in attendance. Therefore, there’s no sitting today.
“The next adjourned date will be communicated to counsel to the parties for all cases scheduled for today.
“We are sorry for the inconveniences this might have caused, ” the registrar added.
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