Following the call for committal to prison of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukayode due to alleged disobeying of a court order by Justice Isa Dashen of a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, which restrained the EFCC from seizing properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Bribena, the anti-corruption agency has explained that it was never aware of such order im the first place.
In a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said the September 4, 2024 judgment by Justice Dashen came to the Commission by surprise as the EFCC was not put on notice of the judgment date.
The commission, however, reaffirmed its commitment to rule of law, noting that it will not wilfully violate any court order.
Part of the statement read that “the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending report in the media that Ola Olukoyede, the commission’s executive chairman risks committal to prison for alleged violation of the orders of Justice Isa H. A. Dashen of a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The said order restrains the EFCC from seizing properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Bribena, which are alleged proceeds of investment fraud otherwise known as Ponzi scheme.
“It is important to point out that the September 4, 2024 judgment by Justice Dashen came to the commission by surprise as the EFCC was not put on notice of the judgment date.
“Denying the EFCC hearing notice was tantamount to blind-siding the commission, and by extension a denial of fair hearing in the instant case. The commission is therefore taking steps to appeal the judgment, which is still within the time allowed. An earlier decision by the court in a similar case involving the same defendants is currently on appeal at the appellate court in Port Harcourt.”