The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced its intention to appeal a court order issued by Justice Isa Dashen of the Federal High Court in Bayelsa, which threatens imprisonment for the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
Justice Dashen’s order stems from a suit filed by Bliss Multinational Perfection and Oyinmiebi Bribena, CEO of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, against the EFCC. The court had ruled that the EFCC’s seizure and sealing of the company’s properties were unlawful, as they were not proven to be proceeds of crime.
In response, the EFCC, through its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, expressed surprise at the order, citing that the Commission was not informed of the judgement date. Oyewale emphasized that this lack of notification denied the EFCC a fair hearing in the case.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending report in the media that Ola Olukoyede, the Commission’s Executive Chairman, risks committal to prison for alleged violation of the orders of Justice Isa H. A. Dashen of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,” Oyewale said.
The ruling bars the EFCC from seizing properties linked to Bliss Multinational Perfection and Bribena, which the Commission had previously alleged were involved in an investment fraud scheme, commonly referred to as a Ponzi scheme.
Oyewale clarified that the EFCC is now taking steps to appeal the ruling, which remains within the legal timeframe. He further noted that the Commission has already appealed a similar case involving the same defendants at the appellate court in Port Harcourt.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, denying any intention to deliberately violate court orders. The Commission also reminded the public of the serious nature of the allegations against the defendants.
“Bliss Multinational Perfection and Arch. Oyinmiebi Bribena, the Chief Executive Officer of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, were investigated and indicted for investment fraud, in which 123 petitioners lost over N2 billion to the suspects, who had promised them a 25 percent return on investment. However, they neither received the promised return nor recovered their invested funds,” the statement said.
The EFCC is preparing to challenge the court ruling while reaffirming its pursuit of justice in the ongoing fraud investigation.
