The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced its intention to appeal a recent court order issued by Justice Isa Dashen of the Federal High Court in Bayelsa State. The order threatens imprisonment for the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, over allegations of non-compliance with a court ruling.
Justice Dashen’s ruling declared that the EFCC’s seizure and sealing of properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfection and Oyinmiebi Bribena, CEO of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, were unlawful. The judge found that these assets were not proceeds of crime, as previously claimed by the EFCC.
In response, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale, expressed surprise at the court’s decision and noted that the Commission had not been informed of the judgement date. Oyewale emphasized that this lack of notification constituted a denial of fair hearing for the EFCC.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending report in the media indicating that our Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, risks imprisonment for alleged non-compliance with the orders of Justice Isa H. A. Dashen,” Oyewale said. “The Commission was not notified of the judgement date, which we believe amounts to a denial of fair hearing.”
Oyewale also pointed out that an earlier court decision involving the same defendants is currently under appeal. “The order restrains the EFCC from seizing properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Bribena, which are alleged to be proceeds of investment fraud, also known as a Ponzi scheme.”
The EFCC has stated it is in the process of appealing the judgement, which remains within the allowed timeframe. Oyewale reiterated the Commission’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and clarified that the EFCC does not intend to willfully disregard any court order.
The defendants, Bliss Multinational Perfections and Bribena, are under investigation for alleged investment fraud amounting to N2 billion, which has impacted over 123 victims.
