Court Sends EFCC Chairman Bawa To Prison Over N40m Range Rover

Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been convicted by an Abuja High Court for failing to comply with a court order mandating him to return a N40 million Range Rover belonging to Rufus Ojuawo, a naval officer.

Chizoba Oji, the presiding Justice, made the order against which Bawa was convicted on November 21, 2018.

While delivering the contempt of court order on Tuesday, the court specifically directed the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, to take custody of Bawa pending the time he complies with court order.

To give effect to the order, the court mandated Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, to ensure that the order is executed with immediate effect.

However, in a move to make Bawa escape the punishment of court, Francis Jirbo, the commission’s lawyer, canvassed an argument to justify Bawa’s disobedience of court. But the court flatly discountenanced his argument and delivered the ruling.

This conviction came after a motion filed by Ojuawo explaining Bawa’s refusal to comply with the earlier ruling mandating the EFCC Chairman to return the Range Rover.

While reaction to the development in an interview with journalists bawa said his lawyer has appeal the ruling.