Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has declared that the court will no longer entertain any applications from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until it purges itself of contempt.
The court accused the EFCC of disobeying its order to vacate a house seized from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Liman held that the court’s order of 16 May, directing that the occupant of the property, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, be granted access, remains valid and binding.
As a result, the judge rejected the EFCC’s request for a stay of execution of the said order in favour of Emenike.
Expressing his displeasure, Justice Liman stated that it was disrespectful for the anti-graft agency to flout the court’s directive to vacate the property – House 6, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja – only to return seeking a stay of the same order.
He said: “The law is no respecter of persons. If a court order can be treated with disdain by a government agency, then there will be nothing left but for individuals to take the law into their own hands.
“Disobedience to a court order is injurious to the rule of law and can lead to anarchy. Where a party refuses to obey a court order, the court cannot exercise discretion in favour of such a party.
“Therefore, this court will deny the applicant (EFCC) further audience until it purges itself of the contempt.”
Justice Liman also granted an order for substituted service of court documents on the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and a lawyer with the agency, Francis Usani, in relation to the pending contempt proceedings.
He directed the parties to return for the hearing after service has been effected.
In October 2023, the EFCC secured a final forfeiture order on the property and later advertised it for sale.
However, Emenike, who was the sitting tenant, obtained an order from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), granting him the right of first refusal – an order the EFCC reportedly ignored, choosing instead to evict him and claim the property for its chairman’s official residence.