The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disassociated itself from a criminal charge filed against former aviation minister, Senator Stella Oduah, by a police lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed. The anti-graft agency clarified that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police, was not authorized to file any criminal charge against Mrs. Oduah, who recently represented Anambra North in the Senate.
During the proceedings before Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja, EFCC’s counsel, Helen Okonofua, stated that Mohammed, who claimed to be from the Legal Department of the Police Force Headquarters, was not mandated by EFCC to prosecute Mrs. Oduah in any criminal matter.
Okonofua revealed that Mohammed had previously been with EFCC but was de-seconded back to the Police on November 4, 2022, and had no involvement with EFCC since then. She emphasized that the criminal charge filed on June 22, 2023, under the name of EFCC, had no authority or approval from the agency.
Following Justice Omotoso’s order, EFCC investigated Mohammed and will formally present the report of its findings to the court on October 4, 2023.
Earlier, on July 11, 2023, Justice Omotoso had handed over the police lawyer to EFCC for filing frivolous criminal charges against the former minister under EFCC’s name.
