…to begin contempt proceeding against EFCC Chair

A Federal High Court in Abuja has expressed displeasure over the failure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to comply with its order directing the anti-graft agency to vacate one of the houses seized from former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

Justice Musa Liman, in a ruling on Friday, held among others, that it was disrespectful of the court for the EFCC to disregard the court’s earlier order directing it to vacate the property – House 6, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja – only to return to the same court for an order staying its said order pending appeal.

Justice Liman, who accused the EFCC of treating the court’s earlier order with disdain, said his court would no longer hear any application from it (the EFCC) until it purged itself of the contemptuous act.

The judge said, “The law is no respecter of any person. If order of the court can be treated with disdain by an agency of the government, then there will be nothing left but for persons to take law into their own hands.

“Disobedience to a court order is injurious to the rule of law and can lead to anarchy. Where a party has refused to obey a court order, the court cannot exercise discretion in favour of such a party.

“Therefore, this court will deny the applicant (EFCC) further audience till it purges itself of the contempt,” the judge said.

Justice Liman held that the May 16 order of the court, directing that the occupant of the property – High Chief Ikechi Emenike – be allowed access to the house, was still subsisting.

The judge rejected the request by the EFCC to hear a motion for a stay the execution of the May 16 order issued in suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/1123/2021 in favour of High Chief Emenike.

Justice Liman also issued an order for substituted service of court documents on EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukayode and a lawyer with the agency, Francis Usani, in relation to a pending contempt case against them.

He ordered parties to return for the hearing of the contempt case after service.

In the motion, seeking the committal of the two men, filed by Emenike’s lawyer, Obi Nwakor, the the court is prayed to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the EFCC Chairman and a lawyer that represented the agency in the case, Usani, “for brazen and grievous acts of contempt of resisting and obstructing the Sheriffs of this court from the execution of orders of this honourable court in this suit, made on the 16th day of May 2025.”

The court is also urged to issue an order of the court, directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take the duo “into custody with immediate effect for the purpose of bringing them before the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for brazen and grievous contempt of court.”

According to court documents, the EFCC, in October 2023 secured an order for final forfeiture of the property and subsequently advertised it for sale.

Emenike, who was the sitting tenant, later got an order of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ordering that he be accorded the right of first refusal, a decision the EFCC failed to comply with, and instead, evicted him, claiming to want to utilise it as its Chairman’s residence. (The Nation)