EFCC disowns lawyer prosecuting Stella Oduah in new suit

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disowned a lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed a fresh charge bordering on perjury and document falsification against a former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Stella Oduah, in the name of the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC’s counsel, H. A Okonofua, told Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the commission did not ask Mohammed to prosecute Oduah, the sole defendant in the matter.

Upon resumed hearing, though Mohammed and Oduah were not in court, Okonofua said the report of the investigation carried out by the anti-corruption agency was out.

While informing the court about the outcome of the investigation, the lawyer said: “The counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, was de-seconded back to Nigeria Police on November 14, 2022, and he was not sent to represent the EFCC to prosecute the defendant in the charge he filed in June.”

Justice Omotosho drew Okonofua’s attention to the fact that the report was not before the court.

READ ALSO: Stella Oduah faces trial over NYSC certificate falsification

The lawyer admitted that the report was filed late.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter until October 4, 2023, for the investigation report to be before the court.

The EFCC is expected to arraign Oduah before Justice Omotosho the next day on alleged perjury and document falsification.

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Anambra North Senatorial Distinct in the 9th National Assembly, is being accused of misrepresenting facts about whether or not she participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and was issued a certificate to that effect.

She was alleged to have falsified documents with which she got into public offices, including being a minister and a senator in the fresh charge.

But on July 11 when the matter was called for arraignment, Mohammed, a police officer, who appeared for EFCC, admitted committing error in filing the charge in the name of the anti-graft agency.

He told the court that though he was seconded to the EFCC, he had been redeployed back to the Force Headquarters in November last year.

He said it was in error he signed the charge in the name of the EFCC office in Benin, Edo State.

The judge had ordered his arrest and investigation by the anti-graft agency.

The Star