A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to stop further actions against the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The trial judge, Justice Stephen Pam, gave the order on Tuesday, following an application brought before it by the lawyer to Senator Okorocha, Ola Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Justice Pam gave the order following the submissions of Olanipekun that the EFCC is going against the judgment of the same court in a previous suit.
The court had ordered the Commission to release the International passport and travel documents of the defendant among other decisions of the court.
Recall that Senator Okorocha had recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari to complain about the alleged harassment by the EFCC.
He further sought the intervention of the President to ensure that the anti-graft agency adheres to the rulings of the court on the allegations he is being charged with.
Okorocha’s counsel, Olanipekun at the resumption of proceedings yesterday, reminded the court that on the 6th of December, 2021, a judgment was entered in favour of Okorocha, and instead of the applicant, EFCC, to obey the judgment or appeal, it went ahead to contravene it.
Senator Okorocha’s lawyer further informed the court that despite its decision, EFCC has refused to release the International passport and travel documents of his client.
But, responding lawyer to EFCC, N.A. Dodo told the court that it only got the application from the applicant on Monday, pleading for time to respond to the processes.
He denied that the EFCC was going contrary to the judgment of the court, adding that EFCC had called on Okorocha to come and pick his passport and travel documents, but that he had not responded.
TNC correspondent reports that after much arguments, the trial judge adjourned the 14th of this month for a hearing, warning that all orders made by the court must be obeyed by the parties.
