By Kamsi Anayo
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday reversed itself on the order convicting the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Justice has Chizoba Oji who gave the order on Tuesday set it aside on Thursday after listening to the application by the EFCC.
The Judge agreed that the EFCC Chairman was not in contempt of court as he had complied with the order having released the Range River.
It was further observed that he had initiated the internal process of the release of the N40 million to the respondent in obedience to the order.
The application was brought pursuant to Section 6(6) (a) and Section 36(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 91 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, Cap S6 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 and other relevant enactments.
The court had convicted the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa for contempt of court on Monday for a purported violation of the order issued on November 21, 2018.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, had said in a statement on Tuesday night that the order came as a surprise as it created the impression that the chairman was encouraging impunity.
He explained that Bawa, had never disobeyed anything court order since March 5, 2022, when he became chairman of the Commission.
Uwujaren explained that the said order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Abdulrasheed became EFCC Chairman.
He added that the EFCC Chairman had already released the Range Rover and had approved the process for the release of the N40 million in question