November 09, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has faulted the court order, committing its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, for contempt, over his failure to comply with a November 21st, 2018 order, directing the Commission to return a Range Rover and N40 million seized from an applicant.
According to the anti-graft agency, Bawa was not the EFCC chairman when the order was given in 2018.
It said, even when the order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Abdulrasheed became EFCC Chairman, he had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022, while the process of the release of the remaining N40m had also been approved.
The Commission in a statement, issued by its Head of Media & Publicity, Wison Uwujaren, said the court ruling has created a “wrong impression of the person of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC as encouraging impunity.”
The statement read: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, received with shock, a report of the ruling by Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja committing the Executive Chairman for contempt over the failure to comply with a November 21st, 2018 order of the court directing the Commission to return seized assets comprising a Range Rover (Super charge) and the sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) to the applicant.
“This ruling is surprising as it creates a wrong impression of the person of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC as encouraging impunity. As far as the relationship between the EFCC and the judiciary is concerned,
“The Executive Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been an apostle of rule of law, due process, and close collaboration between the two institutions in justice administration. As an investigator, and the only Chief Executive of a law enforcement agency who regularly goes to court, the Executive Chairman will not tolerate impunity or disregard any lawful orders of the court.
“Abdulrasheed Bawa, in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the EFCC since March 5, 2022, did not disregard any order of court. For the benefit of the public, the said order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Abdulrasheed became EFCC Chairman.
“This fact is germane as the contempt process is quasi criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa, as incumbent chairman of the EFCC, was neither served form 48 nor form 49.
“Despite this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being aware of the said order of November 21st, 2018, had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022 and had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40m.
“Taking into cognisance the procedural lapse in the contempt proceedings the commission has initiated a process to set aside the entire contempt proceedings and committal of the Executive Chairman for contempt.
“Despite the discomfort of this ruling, which is seemingly promoted by misinformation, the commission remains committed to working closely with the judiciary in furtherance of the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.”
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