A renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ola Olanipekun, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, to comply with a court order that committed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (ICPC), Abdulrasheed Bawa to prison for contempt.
Olanipekun said the EFCC Boss was trying to cause anarchy in the country by flagrantly disobeying court orders, adding that Bawa had recently been committed to prison in a similar ruling by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in November.
He said this just as the office of the IGP received and acknowledged the order committing Bawa to prison on Wednesday, February 8,2023.
Speaking on Arise Television, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria argued that no Nigerian or foreigner, no matter how highly placed should be allowed to rubbish the courts, noting that the same instrument put the EFCC boss in office.
“In fact, the higher the position you occupy, the greater the burden of responsibility on you to show good example and live within the ambit of the law.
“Nobody, nobody at all, no matter how highly placed, no matter the position you occupy, not even the President of Nigeria, can disobey court order,” he stated.
In this particular case, Olanipekun said that the Inspector-General of Police must carry out the court order.
“Bawa is going to go to prison at the earliest time possible, or he goes back to that court to go and purge himself of the contempt. All he has to do is to go and release that particular citizen and if there are other orders that the court has made, like in this particular case, the court has made an order for an apology to the citizen for so detaining him in flagrant breach of his fundamental human rights.
“So he has to go ahead and make that apology. We must comply with the law. We must realise that this is a Federal Republic of Nigeria, a country that is founded on law, on procedure, on rule of law.” 
Justice R.O. Ayoola of the Kogi State High Court, in his judgement on Monday, February 6, 2023, granted the application for commital to prison of the EFCC chairman for disobeying a court ruling delievered on November 30, 2022, wherein the EFCC chairman was directed to produce the applicant in the case, Ali Bello.
Ali Bello had dragged Bawa to court for arresting and detaining him illegally, with the court ruling in his favour, only for the EFCC to arraign him for alleged money laundering three days after the ruling.
Insisting that the anti-graft agency boss could not effect any action without first obeying the court order that sent him to jail, the learned silk noted that the actions of the EFCC boss amounted to lawbreaking and could trigger anarchy in the land.
Olanipekun said, “Over the years, EFCC had been having a running battle with the law, we must realise that Section 34, in fact, the entire Chapter 4 has to do with the Fundamental Human Rights of Nigerians, and this is the area where EFCC always has problems.
“Section 34 talks about the dignity of the Nigerian person. You don’t just treat people anyhow. The fact that somebody has a case doesn’t mean he has lost his citizenship.
“There is presumption of innocence, not only when you are taken to court, it also applies when you are being investigated. The degree of innocence when being investigated is even higher than when taken to court. A man has his right to fair hearing.” 
Explaining why Bawa has to be jailed, the SAN said, “The order is that he should be committed to prison until he purges himself of the contempt. What was it that the court asked him to do that he failed to do? He was asked to produce Citizen Bello in court, he didn’t produce him. Let me make something clear. It was not as if when the court made the order, Bawa didn’t comply and the order of commital was made, no.
“There is a procedure and Bawa did not comply; Form 48 was served on him, to let him know that ‘your disobedience has consequences.’ He ignored it. Form 49 was served on him for him to come and show cause why he, Bawa, should not be committed to prison for contempt of court, he ignored it. A motion was filed and served on him, giving him notice that we are going to move the court to give an order for you to be committed for contempt and you will be committed to prison, he ignored it.
“Well, at the last moment, the lawyers came to court and they could not give any reasonable argument so the court granted the application and made an order of commital. So he goes to prison.
“The Inspector-General of Police is going to carry out that order and bawa is going to go to prison or at the earliest time possible, he goes back to that court to go and purge himself of the contempt. All he has to do is to go and release that particular citizen and if there are other orders that the court has made, like in this particular case, the court has made an order for an apology to the citizen for so detaining him in flagrant breach of his fundamental human rights. So he has to go ahead and make that apology.
“We must comply with the law. We must realise that this is a Federal Republic of Nigeria, a country that is founded on law, on procedure, on rule of law. He must comply with the orders. It is not something that he can just walk away from. And if he doesn’t purge himself of the contempt, he is going to remain in prison for as long as it takes him to purge himself of the contempt. If he purges himself of the contempt within 48 hours, he gets released from the prison, he doesn’t have to spend the whole of 14 days there. But the law has to be complied with.
“There is an order now for the Inspector-General of Police to comply with. So, we are now waiting to see whether the IGP will comply with this order. If he doesn’t comply by arresting bawa, he himself will become liable for commital for contempt.”
“We can’t just continue as if the law doesn’t exist. The EFCC or the Police or any institution whatsoever, they are all set up by statute, so, they must operate within the ambit of the law,” Olanipekun noted.
kurumsal hurdacı firması arayanlara yüksek hurda fiyatları ile hizmet veriyoruz.
Fantastic site. Lots of useful information here. I?¦m sending it to a few pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks on your sweat!
you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a excellent job on this topic!
A person necessarily lend a hand to make critically articles I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual post incredible. Wonderful activity!
Really fantastic visual appeal on this site, I’d rate it 10 10.
I went over this website and I think you have a lot of wonderful info , saved to favorites (:.
Good day! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
What Is FitSpresso?The 100 natural formula is formulated using a potent blend of 6 ingredients.
Java Burn: What is it? Java Burn is marketed as a natural weight loss product that can increase the speed and efficiency of a person’s natural metabolism, thereby supporting their weight loss efforts
Wonderful work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my site . Thanks =)
Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
I really like assembling useful info, this post has got me even more info! .
I also think thus, perfectly indited post! .
Prodentim: What is it? Some of the finest and highest quality ingredients are used to produce Prodentim, an oral health supplement
What i do not realize is actually how you’re not really a lot more neatly-liked than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably in terms of this topic, produced me individually believe it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men are not interested until it is something to do with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. At all times maintain it up!
Hello There. I discovered your blog using msn. That is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your helpful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my website =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
I like this blog very much, Its a rattling nice post to read and receive information. “I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.” by Arthur Rubinstein.
Hey there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the great work!
You got a very great website, Glad I noticed it through yahoo.
What Is Sugar Defender? Sugar Defender is a meticulously crafted natural health supplement aimed at helping individuals maintain balanced blood sugar levels. Developed by Jeffrey Mitchell, this liquid formula contains 24 scientifically backed ingredients meticulously chosen to target the root causes of blood sugar imbalances.
What is Tea Burn? Tea Burn is a new market-leading fat-burning supplement with a natural patent formula that can increase both speed and efficiency of metabolism. Combining it with Tea, water, or coffee can help burn calories quickly.
Glad to be one of many visitants on this awesome website : D.
Thankyou for helping out, good info .
Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
Good write-up, I?¦m normal visitor of one?¦s web site, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Thanks!
What Is Kerassentials? Kerassentials is a doctor-formulated oil for healthy skin and nails.
Somebody essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Magnificent job!
I appreciate your piece of work, thanks for all the great content.
I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂
It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I gotta bookmark this website it seems very helpful very useful
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
fantastic points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you recommend about your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and all. Nevertheless think about if you added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this site could certainly be one of the greatest in its niche. Good blog!
certainly like your website however you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I¦ll definitely come back again.
You are my aspiration, I own few blogs and occasionally run out from to brand.