The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, yesterday suspended moves by the Kogi State High Court to commit the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede for contempt.
It granted an ex parte motion for a stay of proceedings of contempt application filed against the EFCC Chairman by the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The court which was presided over by Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole, also granted EFCC prayers to serve the processes in the appeal by substituted means on the former governor.
With Oyewole were Justices P. C. Obiora and Okon Abang.
The EFCC boss had been summoned by Justice Isa Abdullahi Jamil of the Kogi State High Court to appear on May 13, 2024, to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying the orders of the court.
The EFCC, however, appealed the ruling of the trial court and sought a stay of the proceeding of the court.
The EFCC boss is accused of carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.
But the Court of Appeal yesterday gave the orders for the stay of contempt proceedings after hearing Chief J.S.Okutepa (SAN) leading Eko Ejembi Eko (SAN), Abdulkareem Musa and David Ojogbane Akogu.
