The hearing of an ex-parte motion for stay of proceedings filed by EFCC Chairman Mr. Ola Olukayode, against a contempt charge instituted by former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was stalled on Monday at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
The case, scheduled for Monday, was delayed due to a workshop organized by the appellate court, as reported by NAN.
The two-day workshop on the Review of the 2023 Election Petition Tribunals/Court and Appeals, organized by the Appeal Court, commenced on Monday in Abuja.
On May 3, the appellate court had granted an ex-parte motion for a stay of contempt proceedings filed by the EFCC, against its chairman, by a Kogi State High Court.
The EFCC chairman had been summoned to appear before the state’s court on May 13 to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for allegedly disobeying its orders.
He appealed the ruling of the trial court and sought a stay of the proceedings.
The EFCC chair is facing a contempt charge for carrying out actions restrained by the lower court on February 9, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.
Justice I. A. Jamil, in a ruling on Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, stated that “the said act was carried out by the respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which is valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.”
The judge held that the EFCC’s actions amounted to contempt, as they had laid siege to the former governor’s residence at 8 a.m. on April 17, attempting to arrest him despite a court order restraining them from taking such action.
Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Bello, through his lawyer M.S. Yusuf, requesting the court to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him.
When the case came up on May 3 before the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, the court granted the EFCC’s application to serve the processes in the appeal by substituted means on the former governor.
The court consequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20.
On Monday, lawyers and litigants who arrived at the court around 9 a.m. were informed by the registrar that there would be no sitting due to the workshop.
“We are holding a workshop, where our judges are in attendance. Therefore, there’s no sitting today,” the registrar stated.
“The next adjourned date will be communicated to counsel to the parties for all cases scheduled for today. We are sorry for the inconveniences this might have caused.”
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