The recent case involving the court hearing of Justice Joseph Oyewole brought about a series of twists and turns that captured public attention. In a unanimous decision handed down last Thursday, the magistrate canceled the ongoing proceedings while rejecting the defendant’s preliminary objection, citing technical considerations.
The Court of Appeal noted that the trial judge did not extend the February 9 orders in his April 17 final judgment. This gap has led to a questioning of the legal foundations of the case.
A second issue raised by the defendant regarding the interim order lapsed, adding to tensions in this complex case.
Furthermore, the Court ordered the respondent to pay the sum of N1 million, thereby emphasizing the importance of respecting legal processes.
The Court of Appeal had earlier granted an ex-parte motion to stay the contempt of court proceedings filed against the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, by former Governor Bello.
Under Justice Oyewole presiding, the Court granted the request of the EFCC to serve the notices of appeal on the Governor by substitute means, thereby postponing the hearing of the motion to a later date.
It is essential to recall that the EFCC Chairman had been summoned to appear before the Kogi State High Court in May to justify his conduct. However, he had appealed against the trial court’s decision and requested a stay of court proceedings.
The Kogi High Court made its decision based on the fact that the EFCC had carried out acts contrary to an existing order. The EFCC forces attempted to arrest the former governor despite the court’s ban.
Justice Jamil’s decision was based on an ex-parte motion filed by Bello, which asked the court to order the EFCC chairman to justify his actions.
This case illustrates the challenges facing the Nigerian justice system and highlights the importance of respecting court decisions to maintain order and fairness in society.