The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has appealed the court ruling sending him to the Kuje Correctional Centre for contempt.
Channels Television had reported how Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court convicted Bawa in relation to his agency’s failure to comply with an earlier order of the court.
In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Oji held that the anti-graft czar is 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.
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The judge further directed the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to ensure that the order of this court is executed forthwith.
Reacting to the judgement in a chat with Channels Television’s correspondent and some other journalists, Bawa said an appeal had been filed.
42-year-old Bawa who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption to defend his agency’s budget said the law would take its natural course.
“Well, we have appealed against it, so we will allow the natural course of law to take its effect,” Bawa said.
Bawa stated that the commission requested more funding for its Academy and the agency’s operations which he said requires money.
The EFCC boss is confident that the 9th National Assembly, which he described as purposeful, would heed the request.
The anti-graft agency’s spokesman Wilson Uwujaren also said the EFCC received the news about Bawa with “shock”.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, received with shock, a report of the ruling by Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja committing the Executive Chairman for contempt over the failure to comply with a November 21st, 2018 order of the court directing the Commission to return seized assets comprising a Range Rover (Super charge) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) to the applicant,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This ruling is surprising as it creates a wrong impression of the person of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC as encouraging impunity. As far as the relationship between the EFCC and the judiciary is concerned, The Executive Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa has been an apostle of rule of law, due process, and close collaboration between the two institutions in justice administration. As an investigator, and the only Chief Executive of a law enforcement agency who regularly goes to court, the Executive Chairman will not tolerate impunity or disregard any lawful orders of court.
“Abdulrasheed Bawa, in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the EFCC since March 5, 2022, did not disregard any order of court. For the benefit of the public, the said order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Abdulrasheed became EFCC Chairman. This fact is germane as the contempt process is quasi-criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa as incumbent chairman of the EFCC was neither served form 48 nor form 49.
“Despite this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being aware of the said order of November 21st, 2018 had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022, and had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40m.
“Taking into cognizance the procedural lapse in the contempt proceedings the commission has initiated a process to set aside the entire contempt proceedings and committal of the Executive Chairman for contempt.
“Despite the discomfort of this ruling which is seemingly promoted by misinformation, the commission remains committed to working closely with the judiciary in furtherance of the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.
