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Contempt of Court: Court Orders Arrest of EFCC Chair

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An FCT High Court presided by Justice Abubakar Musa has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to arrest the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, for disobeying court order.

The court also ordered arrest of Aliyu Yusuf, the Head, Proceeds of Crime Unit at the EFCC.

Chief Emenike then approached the court  seeking order for the EFCC to allow him exercise the right of first refusal for the purchase of the house.

He claimed that the EFCC planned to sell the property to a third party without allowing him, “who is a sitting tenant exercise first right of refusal,” describing it as oppressive and unfair,.

However, the court ordered EFCC to leave the property and ordered it not to prevent Chief Emenike and his household from moving in and out of their residence.

But the commission allegedly disobeyed the order and Chief Emenike initiated contempt proceedings against both the chairman of EFCC and the head of the asset recovery team.

According to the court documents obtained, EFCC had disobeyed the first order that was made on the 9th November 2023 which was an interim order. It also disobeyed the interlocutory order made on 6th December 2023, and had proceeded to arrest both Chief Eminike and his wife.

The  APC chieftain then approached the court seeking for the conviction of both Olukoyede and Yusuf for failing to comply with the court orders.

However, according to the court ruling on Tuesday (23th January 2024), Justice Musa ordered the arrest of the EFCC Chairman and the head of Proceeds of Crime Unit.

The judge ruled that ” after listening to Adeyemi Pitan esq counsel for the claimant argue in favour of the application, and Hadiza Afegbu esq counsel for the defendant informing the court that she has no response to the application;

“It is hereby ordered as follows: that an order is hereby made directing the Inspector-General of police to arrest Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Aliyu Yusuf, Head, Proceeds of Crime Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the purpose of committing them to prison for disobeying the orders of this Honourable Court contained in the ruling of the court delivered on the 6th day of December 2023.

“That an order is hereby made directing Ola Olukayode, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Aliyu Yusuf, Head, Proceeds of Crime Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before this court on the date mentioned in this order to show cause why an order for their committal to prison should not be made.”

After the ruling, the judge adjourned the sitting 25th January 2024 for hearing.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesman, promised to get back to our correspondent when he was contacted for a response on Wednesday afternoon but didn’t respond as at the time of filing this report.

The Whistler

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Court Grants Malami N200m Bail in DSS Terrorism, Firearm Charges

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalikof the Federal High Court Abujahas admitted a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son Abdulazizto N200 million bail in the charges bordering on alleged terrorism and illegal firearms possession brought against them by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Malami and his son were, however, ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions imposed on them by the Court.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted them bail while ruling on their bail applications, which were argued by their lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The judge ordered the former AGF and his son to get two sureties each, one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, along with valid international passports.

The sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of the trial.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, Malami was accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

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Fubara Appoints New SSG, Chief of Staff

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Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and Barrister Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff, after the recent shake-up of the State’s political and administrative structure.

The appointments were announced on Thursday in a Special Government Notice signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, and made available to journalists. Both appointments take immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor appointed Dr Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Mr. Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff.

The statement said the appointments take immediate effect, adding that the new appointees would be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The development comes amid the protracted political crisis in the State, which recently escalated into impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by the State House of Assembly. The crisis was eventually diffused following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, had last week announced during plenary that the Assembly formally withdrew the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy after the President’s intervention.

Political observers suggest that the dissolution of the cabinet may be part of efforts to rebalance the power structure in the following the peace accord. However, it remains unclear whether the new appointees are aligned with the governor or loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The statement read in part: “The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the Secretary to the State Government and Barrister Sunny Ewule as the Chief of Staff.

“Both appointments are with immediate effect. The new appointees will be sworn in at 2:00 pm.today, Thursday, February 26, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

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Court Strikes Out Forgery Case Against Ozekhome As FG Withdraws Charges

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The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, bringing an abrupt pause to a case that had drawn public attention.

The charge was originally instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
It followed a judgment delivered by a London court over a property linked to the late former FCT minister, Jeremiah Useni.

In January, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the matter from the ICPC for what it described as effective prosecution.

However, proceedings took a new turn on Tuesday at the FCT High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Peter Kekemeke that the Federal Government was withdrawing the case file for “further instruction”.

He explained that the decision was taken in line with the provisions of Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Counsel to the defence, Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that his team had no objection to the withdrawal of the charge.

In a brief ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that since the application was not opposed, it was granted.

He consequently struck out the charge and ordered that the case be dismissed.

The withdrawal effectively halts legal action against Ozekhome over the alleged forgery linked to the disputed property transaction.

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