Bawa has returned AVM Ojuawo’s Range Rover in exchange for the release of seized N40 million. “In terms of the EFCC’s relationship with the courts, the chairman has been an ardent supporter of the rule of law and due process.”
The EFCC expressed amazement at the judgement by Justice Chizoba Oji of the FCT High Court, which sentenced Mr Bawa to jail for contempt.
The EFCC praised Mr Bawa as an advocate of the rule of law and due process who believes in close coordination between the two institutions in justice administration on its verified Twitter handle.
“This ruling is surprising as it creates a wrong impression of the person of the commission’s chairman as encouraging impunity,” the anti-graft agency said. “As far as the relationship between the EFCC and the judiciary is concerned, the chairman has been an apostle of the rule of law, due process and a promoter of close collaboration between the two institutions in justice administration.”
On Tuesday, the court convicted the EFCC chief for failing to comply with a previous court order.
The court ordered the commission to restore to a defendant, Mr Ojuawo, a former director of operations for the Nigerian Air Force, his Range Rover SUV and N40 million that had been taken from him. The EFCC charged Mr Ojuawo with two counts in 2016 before Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the FCT High Court.
Hima Aboubakar of Societe D’Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited was accused of giving him N40 million and a Range Rover Sport (Supercharged).
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Usman Baba stated that he was ignorant of the court order to arrest and imprison Mr Bawa for contempt.
“The court directed the commission to return the seized assets comprising a Range Rover (Supercharge) and the sum of N40,000,000 to the applicant. As an investigator and the only chief executive of a law enforcement agency who regularly goes to court, will not tolerate impunity or disregard any lawful orders of the court,” it said.
The statement explained that Mr Bawa was not appointed when the order was given in 2018, claiming “that was three years before he became chairman of the commission.
The EFCC statement added, “Despite that, the said Range Rover in question has been released to the applicant on June 27, 2022, and the chairman had approved the process for the release of the remaining N40 million. Taking into cognisance the procedural lapse in the contempt proceedings, the commission has initiated a process to set aside the entire contempt proceedings and committal of the executive chairman for contempt.”
Despite the “discomfort of this ruling which is seemingly promoted by misinformation,” the EFCC said it “remains committed to working closely with the judiciary in furtherance of the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.”