Court summons comptroller over refusal to produce ex-Mint boss

Mr. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered the Deputy Comptroller of Prison, Kuje, Abuja, Musa Tanko, to appear in court on August 12 for refusing to produce detained former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Emmanuel Okoyomon.


Justice Valentine Ashi had, by an ex parte order upon an application by Okoyomon, directing the defendants in the suit – Deputy Comptroller in Charge of Medium Security Prison, Kuje, and Attorney General of the Federation – to produce him in court and show cause why he should not be granted bail.

But rather than obey the court’s order, the prison boss wrote directly to the judge, stating that Okoyomon was being held in Kuje prison by virtue of a remand order by the Court of Appeal.

The prison officer insisted that Okoyomon could only be produced in any court with the permission of the court that ordered his remand.

Justice Ashi, who got angry with the prison official’s position, described the conduct as a contempt of court and disobedience to a valid court order.

“The procedure adopted by the 1st respondent (Deputy Comptroller in Charge of Medium Security Prison, Kuje) is reprehensible and contemptuous of the court,” the judge said.

He added that the decision by the prison officer to write directly to him (the judge) was disrespectful of the institution of the court.

He then ordered the prison official to attend court on the next adjourned date to show the reason why he should not be imprisoned for contempt of court.

Lawyer to the AGF, Muslim Hassan, however apologised on behalf of the prison official and assured that the defendants held the court in high esteem.

Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on May 4, 2015 granted an application by the AGF for the extradition of Okoyomon to the United Kingdom, where he is wanted for bribery allegation involving officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

Okoyomon appealed the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

He also applied to the court for bail and stay of execution of the decision by Justice Chukwu.

But, in its ruling on June 26, the appellate court rejected the bail application on the ground that it was unmeritorious.

The appellate court however granted Okoyomon’s request for stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, directing the Federal Government to proceed with his extradition.

Okoyomon then approached the FCT High Court again challenging his continued detention.

The Office of the Attorney General has faulted his new suit and accused him of misleading Justice Ashi into assuming jurisdiction over the case.

In the counter-affidavit and notice of preliminary objection filed for the AGF, it was argued that Okoyomon, having been detained on the order of the Court of Appeal, ought to either proceed to the Supreme Court or pursue his pending appeal. It urged the court to dismiss the case for lacking the jurisdiction to hear it.

The judge adjourned the case till August 12 for the hearing of the objection filed by the AGF and for the prison official to attend court and show cause why he should not be imprisoned for contempt.


PUNCH