The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on Thursday set aside the Order of Committal and the entire contempt proceedings against Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice Chizoba Oji had earlier this week convicted Bawa to Kuje correctional facilities for contempt of court, pending the setting aside of the order.
Justice Oji ruled that the EFCC Chairman failed to obey an order of November 21, 2018.
The court had instructed the return of seized assets comprising the sum of N40 million and a Range Rover.
The earlier conviction order by Justice Chizoba Oji was today set aside after hearing an application brought by Bawa.
Ruling on a motion on notice filed by the EFCC, asking the court to quash the entire proceedings in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria V AVM Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, and set aside the conviction of the Applicant for contempt, Justice Oji said she found merit in the application in the interest of justice.
According to the court, at the time of the order, Bawa was not in contempt of court as he had complied with the order that the respondent’s Range Rover be released and by several internal memoranda, the applicant had initiated the EFCC’s internal mechanism to make the payment of the sum of N40,000,000 to the respondent.
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“I hereby set aside the entire contempt proceedings in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria v AVM Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo.
‘’That I further set aside the conviction of the Applicant, the Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for contempt unconditionally,” she ruled.