Civil Society Organisation petitions EFCC, bank for disobeying court order

Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja

Civil Society Organizations in Defence of Justice has strongly frowned against the continued disobedience of court order by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the first generation bank.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Convener of the group, Comr. Sam Adah, called on the new Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa to flush out personnel who are fare being used by some bad elements to flout court orders, just as he stressed that the commission should rather be seen as one leading the fight against corruption which includes obeying the rule of law and not perverting justice.

While citing the plight of some members of the Eleme Petrochemical Cooperative and Credit Society of INDORAMA Petrochemical Ltd, in Rivers State who he said have been seeking justice over issues regarding equity shares in the company, he also called for the immediate unfreezing of the cooperative’s bank account in line with the orders of the Federal High Court.

“On February 26, 2009, the federal government through the National Council on Privatization had approved the sale of 10% of its equity shares in Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd, Port Harcourt, Rivers State to the host community and interested staff of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd. The 10% equity shares was shared as 7.5% was allotted to the host community while the remaining 2.5% was allotted to the Staff of Indoroma Eleme Petrochemicals.

“Interested Staff came together under Eleme petrochemical co-operatives in compliance to the federal government directive that a special purpose vehicle be formed where all members will belong to enable them buy the shares.

“In 2013, 10 staffs who initially subscribed to the purchase of the 2.5 equity shares had their jobs terminated from the employment of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals.

“This led to the beginning of a legal battle as to whether the laid off staff can continue to enjoy the dividends since they were no longer staff in the company.

“When the shareholding became an issue the laid off staff approached the River State Ministry of Commerce and Industry to arbitrate between it and the cooperative, the Ministry gave an Arbitral Award in favour of the laid off staff and consequently, the exited staffs of the co-operative approached the Federal High Court to enforce the arbitral award and as required by law it was granted and the award became a judgment of the Federal High Court.

“The judgement affirmed the laid off staffs as the authentic owners of the shares. It is of important to note that this judgement has not been appealed to this day.

“This act continued until Justice Taiwo .O.Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Suit FHC/ABJ/SC/1222/2020 granted an Order stopping the EFCC from arresting, inviting, detaining and prosecuting or inquiring into the acquisition of shares of Indorama Petrochemicals.

“This act continued until Justice Taiwo .O .Taiwo of the Federal high court in Suit FHC/ABJ/SC/1222/2020 granted an Order stopping the EFCC from arresting, inviting ,detaining and prosecuting or inquiring into the acquisition of shares of INDORAMA Petrochemicals ltd.

“We urge the new Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa to revisit the case and make sure that certain elements in the agency promoting abuse of court orders be arrested and dealt with accordingly.”

He called on the EFCC rise to its mandate and responsibility and desist from been used by influencial and powerful Nigerians to intimidate poor Nigerians.

Other demands includes that First Bank of Nigeria, without further delay should honour the order of the court and grant access to the funds in its custody.

“First Bank must realize that this very act has cost many loss to the members of the Co-operative especially the diseased ones, whose widows only livelihood depends on the funds in their custody.

“If the impunity continues we will have no option than to commence legal Action against First Bank.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, had said that ongoing cases are not immediately made available to his office.