EFCC Boss, Bawa, Sentenced To Kuje Prison Over Seized N40 million, Range Rover

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been sentenced to Kuje Prison for contempt of court.

Justice Chizoba Oji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama ordered Inspector General of Police to remand Bawa for failing to carry out the order of the court.

EFCC had, in 2016 sued, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, a one-time Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), for allegedly receiving gratification of N40 million and a Range Rover Sport (Supercharged).

The vehicle and money was alleged to have been handed to him by one Hima Aboubakar of Societe D’Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited.

However, in November 2018, Justice Muawiyah Idris, who presided in the case, ruled in Ojuawo’s favour, stating that EFCC has failed to provide evidence beyond reasonable doubt that the money and car were bribe to influence the officer’s job.

The anti-graft agency was ordered to return the N40 million and Range Rover to Ojuawo, “In conclusion, I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove the two counts charge of corrupt gratification under S17 (1)(a) and (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“The defendant is discharged and acquitted on counts one and two of the charge.

“Consequently, the complainant (EFCC) is ordered to refund the defendant his N40,000,000 wrongly paid into ONSA recovery account and to return to the defendant his Range Rover Sport (Supercharged) forthwith,” Justice Idris said.

However, the officer is yet to receive the money and car. And according to Justice Orji on October 28, refusal to obey the court order was contempt of court, and as such, Bawa should be committed to jail until Ojuawo has received his belongings seized by EFCC.

The judge said, “the Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in contempt of the orders of this honourable court made on November 21st 2018 directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja to return to the applicant his Range Rover (Super charge) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira).”

Justice Orji added, “Having continued willfully in disobedience to the order of this court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order of court made on November 21st, 2018, until he purges himself of the contempt.

“The Inspector General of Police shall ensure that the order of this honourable court is executed forthwith.”