…Denies withdrawing $840,000 to pay children’s fees
A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying court order.
Blueprint Weekend reports that the EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out, “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.
Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.
EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, in a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the originating motion.
Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.
Having listened to the arguments of the Applicant’s counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Yahaya Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.
Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello has debunked allegations by the EFCC that he withdrew the sum US $840,000 from the Kogi state government’s account to pay his children’s school fees, just before leaving office.
In a statement Friday signed by Ohiare Michael, the former governor said he did not pay the fees of his children with monies from the coffers of the Kogi state government.
The statement read “His Excellency, Yahaya Bello’s children have attended the American International School, Abuja well before he became governor and he has paid fees for his children as and when due and without fail.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet.
“The payment of the fees was not effected at about the time his Excellency was to leave office as claimed by Mr. Olukoyede but the same commenced in 2021.
“Alhaji Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi state government.
“When the EFCC approached the American International School Abuja (AISA) to illegally recover funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCC’s unlawful acts to recover funds legitimately paid. The FCT High Court, in Suit No.
FCT/HC/2574/2023 between: Mr. Ali Bello v. The Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja, held that AISA could not lawfully and unilaterally refund to a third party, including the EFCC, fees paid by the parties to the suit.”
