The former Director-General (DG) of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, has been acquitted of contempt charges stemming from a protracted legal dispute between BPE and BFIG over the ownership and operation of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.
According to a document made available to Freelanews, the Federal High Court’s decision to acquit Alex Okoh was based on its findings that there was no basis to hold him in contempt or committal over the dispute.
Okoh, who was relieved of his position as DG of BPE in January 2024, had faced contempt charges and committal rulings by various courts, including the Supreme Court.
The legal imbroglio began in December 2019 when Anwuli Chikere, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered his arrest and imprisonment for alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court order regarding the ownership controversy surrounding ALSCON.
Now, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice D.U. Okorowo, has granted Okoh’s request for dismissal and discharge of the contempt/committal and all associated charges in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2004 between BFI Group Corporation (judgment creditor/respondent) and BPE (judgment debtor/respondent).
Despite the legal challenges he faced, the former DG successfully secured his discharge as contained in an enrolled order issued by the court on Friday, April 5, 2024. The ruling by Justice Okorowo followed a motion on notice dated and filed on March 12, 2024, requesting the Court to direct his discharge.
In his ruling, Justice Okorowo emphasized the importance of upholding the decisions of the apex court, particularly the order restraining BPE from negotiating, selling, transferring, or otherwise handing over ALSCON in violation of the contract between BPE and BFIG.
It is noteworthy that Okoh was appointed DG of BPE five years after the Supreme Court’s ruling and was relieved of his position three weeks before the contempt ruling of January 26, 2024.
The BPE, a Federal Government agency responsible for economic reforms, including the privatization and commercialization of government-owned enterprises, also serves as the secretariat of the National Council on Privatization (NCP).
The judgment of April 5, 2024, has effectively cleared Mr. Okoh of the contempt charges related to the ALSCON ownership dispute, marking a pivotal moment in the legal battle between BPE and BFIG, which dates back to 2003 when the National Council on Privatization approved the privatization process for ALSCON.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
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