A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to stop further actions against the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The trial judge, Justice Stephen Pam, gave the order on Tuesday, following an application brought before it by counsel for Okorocha, Mr. Ola Olanipekun(SAN).
Olanipekun said the anti-graft agency refused to release the senator’s international passport.
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However, counsel to EFCC said Okorocha was invited to come and pick his international, but refused to honour the invitation.
According to Olanipekun, EFCC was going against the judgment of the same court, wherein the court ordered the Commission to release the international passport and travelling documents of the defendant among other decisions of the court.
Following the refusal of the Commission to adhere to the judgment, Okorocha approached the same court for the protection of his human rights that were under threat.
Olanipekun, at the resumption of proceedings Tuesday, reminded the court that on December 6, 2021, it entered a judgment in favour of Okorocha, but that instead of the applicant, EFCC, to obey the judgment or appeal, it went ahead to contravene it.
Olanipekun further informed the court that despite its decision that EFCC has refused to release the international passport and travel documents of his client, Okorocha.
He said: “Today it appears like no judgment was entered here.”
However, counsel for EFCC, N. A. Dodo, told the court that it only got the application from the applicant on Monday, pleading for time to respond to the processes.
He denied that the EFCC was going contrary to the judgment of court, adding that EFCC had called on Okorocha to come and pick his passport and travelling documents, but that he (Okorocha) had not responded.
“Mr Lord we are complying with the judgment. We have called him (Okorocha) to come and pick his passport, but he refused,” he said.
However, the trail judge, Stephen D. Pam, said he was not happy with the attitude of EFCC on the matter, noting that he would not tolerate contempt.
Pam said: “I take exception to disobedience. Your organisation (EFCC) should not do anything to the applicant until this matter is determined.
“What is the order? Obey it. If you are not okay with the judgment go and appeal it.
“Don’t allow the drama that took place in my court in the matter between Peter Odili and Nigeria Immigration to take place here.”
He adjourned till 14 for hearing, warning that all orders made by the court must be obeyed by the parties