Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, set aside a remand order after hearing an application brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Chizoba Oji held that the chairman of the anti-graft agency, is in contempt of the order of the court made on 21 November, 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 should 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.
However, the application was brought pursuant to Section 6(6) (a) and Section 36(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 91 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, Cap S6 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 and other relevant enactments explaining the EFCC chairman’s role in the case.
The court found that the EFCC chairman was not in contempt of court as he had complied with the order that Ojuawo’s Range Rover be released and by several internal memoranda, he had initiated the commission’s internal mechanism to ensure the payment of N40m.
The judge, set aside the conviction and remand order against the chairman of the EFCC in the contempt proceeding.