The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has said that the Court ruling against its Executive Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa was surprising and has created a wrong impression of the person of her Boss who always encouraging impunity.
The Commission who made this known on its official social platform on Tuesday, said it was shocking to receive the report of the ruling by Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja.
Committing its Chairman for contempt over the failure to comply with a November 21st, 2018 order of the court directing the Commission to return seized assets comprising a Range Rover (Super charge) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) to the applicant.
The Commission cleared that as far as the relationship between the Commission and the judiciary is concerned, its Executive Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa has been an apostle of rule of law, due process, and close collaboration between the two institutions in justice administration.
“As an investigator, and the only Chief Executive of a law enforcement agency who regularly goes to court, the Executive Chairman will not tolerate impunity or disregard any lawful orders of court”, the Commission added.
EFCC noted that Bawa, in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Commission since March 5, 2022, did not disregard any order of court. “For the benefit of the public, the said order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Abdulrasheed became EFCC Chairman.
“This fact is germane as the contempt process is quasi criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa as incumbent chairman of the EFCC, was neither served form 48 nor form 49”, the Commission said.
EFCC stated further that despite this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being aware of the said order of November 21st 2018 had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022 and had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40m.
“Taking into cognizance the procedural lapse in the contempt proceedings the commission has initiated a process to set aside the entire contempt proceedings and committal of the Executive Chairman for contempt.
“Despite the discomfort of this ruling which is seemingly promoted by misinformation, the commission remains committed to working closely with the judiciary in furtherance of the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria”, the Commission added.
Reacting to the judgement in a chat with Channels Television’s Correspondent and some other journalists, Bawa said an appeal had been filed.
42-year-old Bawa who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption to defend his agency’s budget in Abuja on Tuesday, said the law would take its natural course. “Well, we have appealed against it, so we will allow the natural course of law to take its effect,” Bawa said.