Table of Contents
The Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa, has rescinded a previous directive to arrest Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Tuesday, Justice Abubakar Musa issued an order directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest Mr. Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, the Head of the Proceeds of Crime Unit. This order was based on an alleged disobedience of the Court’s Order, particularly the failure to vacate a private residence at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja.
Join our Telegram Channel for Updates
The arrest order followed a motion initiated by Chief Ikechi Emenike, seeking to commit the EFCC’s boss and the Head of Proceeds of Crime Unit to court for not complying with the court’s directive to leave Emenike’s residence. Despite a court order issued on December 6, 2023, instructing the anti-graft operatives to vacate Emenike’s house, they reportedly defied the order and forcibly entered the applicant’s living room.
Justice Musa issued two orders: firstly, directing the IGP to arrest Ola Olukoyede and Aliyu Yusuf for alleged disobedience of the court’s orders, and secondly, directing the two individuals to appear before the court on a specified date to show cause why an order for their committal to prison should not be made. The matter is set for further legal proceedings.
The court’s decision, communicated via an EFCC statement on Wednesday, cited a reversal of the original order that called for Olukoyede’s arrest.
The initial order was rooted in allegations that Olukoyede had failed to adhere to a court ruling instructing EFCC operatives to vacate a property situated at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja. The court reconsidered its stance, leading to the withdrawal of the arrest order against the EFCC Chairman.
For further details, the EFCC’s statement provides additional information on the legal developments surrounding this matter.
In light of arguments presented by EFCC Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the court acknowledged Ola Olukoyede’s standing as an “officer of the law” who upholds the rule of law. The court recognized Olukoyede’s fervent commitment to advancing the EFCC’s professionalism and ensuring accountable conduct. Oyedepo assured the court that Mr. Olukoyede, now the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and a seasoned legal practitioner with years of experience at the bar, would not knowingly disobey the court’s order.
The EFCC Counsel’s statements emphasized Olukoyede’s integrity and adherence to legal procedures, reinforcing the belief that the EFCC Chairman would not willfully ignore or disobey the court’s directives. The court, in consideration of these factors, reversed its previous order for Olukoyede’s arrest.
Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC Counsel, requested the court to vacate the contempt proceedings against EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, ensuring that all issues in the ongoing suit would be resolved amicably. Defence counsel Adeyemi Pitan did not object to Oyedepo’s submissions. In response, Justice Musa acknowledged that the EFCC Chairman might not have been aware of the situation, prompting him to lift the contempt proceedings against Olukoyede.
The court decided to adjourn the matter until February 7, 2024, for the substantive suit hearing. This upcoming hearing will focus on the core issues of the case, providing an opportunity for further legal resolution.
