The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to hear a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding one of the properties it seized from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, due to the Commission’s failure to comply with an earlier court order.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Musa Liman criticized the EFCC for defying the court’s May 16 order, which instructed the agency to vacate House 6, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja, and allow the property’s occupant, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, access to it. Instead of obeying the directive, the EFCC returned to court seeking a stay of the order pending an appeal.
Justice Liman described the EFCC’s action as disrespectful and warned that the court would not entertain further applications from the agency until it complies with the existing order.
“The law is no respecter of any person. If order of the court can be treated with disdain by an agency of the government, then there will be nothing left, but for persons to take law into their own hands,” the judge said.
He emphasized that allowing such disobedience threatens the foundation of the rule of law.
“Disobedience to a court order is injurious to the rule of law and can lead to anarchy. Where a party has refused to obey court order, the court cannot exercise discretion in favour of such a party.
“Therefore, this court will deny the applicant (EFCC) further audience till it purge itself of the contempt,” he added.
The May 16 ruling remains valid, ensuring that High Chief Emenike is entitled to remain in the property.
In addition to rejecting EFCC’s request for a stay of execution, the court granted an application for substituted service of court papers on EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and agency counsel Francis Usani in an ongoing contempt case.
The contempt motion, filed by Emenike’s lawyer Obi Nwakor, seeks to hold both men accountable for obstructing the enforcement of the court’s order.
In the motion, Nwakor urged the court:
“to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the EFCC Chairman and a lawyer that represented the agency in the case, Usani, for brazen and grievous acts of contempt of resisting and obstructing the Sheriffs of this court from the execution of orders of this honourable court in this suit, made on the 16th day of May 2025.”
The court was also asked to authorize the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest and detain the two EFCC officials.
“The court is also urged to issue an order of the court, directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take the duo into custody with immediate effect for the purpose of bringing them before the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for brazen and grievous contempt of court.”
According to court filings, the EFCC obtained a final forfeiture order over the property in October 2023 and subsequently listed it for sale.
However, Emenike, the legal occupant at the time, obtained a ruling from a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, granting him the right of first refusal.
Despite that ruling, the EFCC allegedly disregarded the directive and forcefully evicted Emenike, claiming the property was now to be used as the residence for the Commission’s Chairman.
The case has been adjourned to allow time for proper service of the contempt proceedings and for the EFCC to comply with the court’s directive.
