By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has filed a motion for a stay of execution and Notice of Appeal against the judgment of Justice A. I Chikere of the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday committing the BPE and its Director-General, Mr. Alex A. Okoh to prison for contempt.
This was contained in a statement issued by the BPE Head of Public Communications, Amina Othman in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Federal High Court had ordered the Director-General to be remanded in prison for a minimum of 30 days for violating a Supreme Court order in a case between BFIG and the Bureau.
A committal proceeding was instituted against BPE and Mr. Alex A. Okoh, DG, BPE in April 2019 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.
The judge ruled on Tuesday that the continued refusal to obey the Supreme Court order was a fundamental violation of the rule of law.
But according to the statement, “the Bureau had at all times complied with all judgments in respect of ALSCON.
“However, BFIG has serially defaulted in meeting its financial commitments as directed by the courts to pay the bid price of USD$410 million as submitted by BFIG in 2004.
“The Federal Government is committed to economic development through privatization and putting its assets to optimal use through the course of fairness and due process”, the statement added.
