The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has been summoned to appear before the Kogi High Court in Lokoja on May 13 due to an alleged violation of a court order.
Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State brought the matter before the court through Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No. HCL/190M/2024, and Justice I.A. Jamil of High Court IV issued the order.
In the ruling, the judge stated that the EFCC’s actions in disregarding the court order constituted contempt of court, as the order was still in effect when the agency attempted to arrest Bello on April 17 against the earlier restraint order.
Following a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello’s lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, requesting the issuance of a notice to show cause why EFCC Chairman Olukoyede should not be held in contempt, Justice Jamil ordered Olukoyede to appear before the court to address the allegations.
The court considered the arguments presented by the applicant’s counsel and the evidence provided in the case, granting Bello’s request and compelling Olukoyede to respond to the contempt charge.
The judge emphasized that the respondent had violated the court’s order issued on February 9, and that this act of defiance amounted to contempt of court, hence the decision to summon the EFCC Chairman for further proceedings.
The court session for Olukoyede’s appearance has been scheduled for May 13, in adherence to the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem” (listen to the other side).