A two-day workshop aimed at reviewing the 2023 Election Petition Tribunal/Court and Appeals proceedings held in Abuja on Monday, caused the adjournment of the hearing of an ex-parte motion for a stay of proceedings filed by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukayode.
Olukayode’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa, had sought a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, against contempt charges brought by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Bello had filed a contempt charge against Olukayode at the Kogi State High Court, presided over by Justice Isa Jamil.
The charges stemmed from actions taken by the EFCC that allegedly violated a court order issued on February 9, which restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello pending the resolution of a substantive originating motion.
Justice Jamil, in his ruling on Bello’s fundamental human rights suit, affirmed that the EFCC’s actions amounted to contempt of court.
He noted, “The said act was carried out by the respondent in violation of the order, which is valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.”
This ruling was in response to the EFCC’s attempt to arrest Bello at his residence on April 17, despite the existing court order.
The EFCC, however, secured an ex-parte motion for a stay of the contempt proceedings from the appellate court on May 3.
Olukayode, who had been summoned to appear before the state High Court on May 13, appealed the lower court’s ruling and sought a stay of the proceedings.
A three-member panel of Justices of the appellate court, led by Joseph Oyewole, granted the EFCC’s application to serve the appeal processes by substituted means on Bello.
The appellate court had adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20.
However, the workshop, which had the attendance of judges, resulted in the suspension of court sessions.
Lawyers and litigants who arrived at the court on Monday were informed by the registrar about the adjournment.
“We are holding a workshop, where our judges are in attendance. Therefore, there’s no sitting today.
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,” the registrar announced.
In April, the EFCC had declared Bello wanted for offenses related to economic and financial crimes, further intensifying the legal battle between the former governor and the anti-graft agency.
