In a recent development, an FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Abubakar Musa, has issued an order for the arrest of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and Aliyu Yusuf, the Head of the Proceeds of Crime Unit at the EFCC.
The court’s decision comes in response to allegations of disobedience to a court order.
The case originated from Chief Ikechi Emenike, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, who approached the court concerning a property located at number 6 Aso Drive, Abuja. The property, a 5-bedroom duplex with a 2-room boys quarters, was reportedly forfeited to the Federal Government as proceeds of corruption.
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Chief Emenike, who sought to exercise his right of first refusal for the purchase of the house, accused the EFCC of planning to sell the property to a third party without allowing him to exercise this right. The court had previously ordered the EFCC to leave the property and not prevent Chief Emenike and his household from moving in and out of their residence.
Allegedly, the EFCC disregarded the court orders, leading Chief Emenike to initiate contempt proceedings against both the EFCC Chairman and the Head of the Asset Recovery Team. Despite the court’s interim and interlocutory orders, the EFCC purportedly arrested Chief Emenike and his wife.
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In response to Chief Emenike’s application seeking the conviction of Olukoyede and Yusuf for failing to comply with the court orders, Justice Musa ruled for their arrest. The order instructs the Inspector-General of Police to arrest the EFCC Chairman and the Head of Proceeds of Crime Unit for the purpose of committing them to prison.
Additionally, the court ordered Olukoyede and Yusuf 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 hearing is scheduled for January 25, 2024.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, had not responded to requests for comments at the time of filing this report.