Mr. Alex Okoh, the former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), has been cleared of contempt charges in a legal dispute involving BPE and BFIG over the ownership and operation of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Akwa Ibom State.
The Federal High Court acquitted Okoh based on its findings that there was no justification to hold him in contempt over the dispute.
Okoh had faced contempt charges and court rulings up to the Supreme Court due to allegations of disobeying court orders related to the ownership controversy of ALSCON.
The recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed all charges of contempt against Okoh, allowing him to be discharged from the case.
The judge emphasized the importance of upholding court decisions, particularly the Supreme Court’s order regarding the ALSCON ownership dispute.
The legal battle between BPE and BFIG dates back to 2003 when the privatization process for ALSCON was approved by the National Council on Privatisation.