The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, set aside the contempt proceedings instituted by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede.
In a unanimous judgment, the three-man panel of justices; Justice A.M. Talba, Justice D. Z. Senchi, and Justice Joseph Oyewole, set aside the proceedings.
justice Oyewole, while delivering the lead judgment, overruled the respondent’s preliminary objection, citing technicalities.
The appellate court said the high court judge failed to extend the orders of February 9, 2024 in its final judgment of April 17, 2024, adding that the second issue raised by the respondent on the interim order, had become an academic exercise.
The court awarded N1m cost against the respondent.
Recall that the appellate court had granted an ex-parte motion for a stay of contempt proceedings filed against the EFCC boss by Bello.
The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Oyewole, granted EFCC’s application from a team of lawyers led by Jibrin Okutepa, (SAN), to serve the processes in the appeal by substituted means on the former governor.