Appeal court grants stay of execution against BPE boss

The Court of Appeal Abuja Division has ordered an immediate stay of execution of the Ruling / Committal Order of Justice A.I. Chikere of the Federal High Court Abuja, which ordered that Mr. Alex A. Okoh, Director General , Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) be remanded in prison custody for a minimum of 30 days for contempt of court. Giving the order in Appeal number CA/A/117/M/2019, the Court, presided over by Hon. Justice S. J. Adah, Justice R. M. Abdulahi and Justice M. B. Idris as members of the Panel, directed all the parties to maintain status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of the motion fixed for January 20, 2020. BPE’s Head, Public Communications, Amina Othman made these known in a statement.

According to the statement, the restraining order reads in part:”An order restraining the respondent, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, their servants, agents, law enforcement agents and persons acting for or on behalf of the Respondent from enforcing, attempting to enforce arrest or imprisoning the 2nd Respondent/Applicant pursuant to the ruling/committal order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Coram Chikere J. dated 17th December, 2019 in the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2004 BFI Group Corporation v Bureau of Public Enterprises, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the Appellants/ Applicants”,

A committal proceeding was instituted against BPE and Mr. Alex A. Okoh, DG, BPE following an allegation that the BPE failed to fully execute the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Court of Appeal in the matter of BFIG v. BPE. The Bureau had at all times complied with all judgments in respect of ALSCON. However, BFIG has consistently failed to meet its financial commitments as directed by the courts to pay the bid price of USD$410 million as submitted by BFIG in 2004.