An Abuja High Court has convicted Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for contempt of court in relation to his agency’s failure to comply with an earlier order of the court.
Justice Chizoba Oji in a ruling on Tuesday, held that the EFCC chairman 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.
She also ordered that Bawa 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 is executed forthwith.
The judge rejected the arguments put forward by the lawyer to the EFCC, Francis Jirbo to justify his client’s action.
The ruling delivered on October 28, a Certified True Copy (CTC), was on a motion on notice marked filed by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, a one-time Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
In the motion, Ojuawo complained that the EFCC declined to comply with the order, for the release of his seized property, made by the court in a judgment delivered on November 21, 2018.
