In a recent development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from the actions of Ibrahim Mohammed, a police lawyer who initiated a criminal charge against Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah, a former Minister of Aviation.
According to the anti-graft agency, it has been revealed in the Federal High Court in Abuja that Superintendent of Police, Mohammed, lacked the necessary mandate or authorization to initiate any criminal charges against Mrs. Oduah, the former senator representing Anambra North.
In a recent development, the counsel representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Heleen Okonofua, brought to the attention of Justice James Omotoso that the lawyer from the Police, who purportedly hailed from the Legal Department of the Force Headquarters, lacked the necessary authorization from the anti-graft agency to prosecute Mrs. Oduah in any criminal case.
According to the counsel’s statement, it has been revealed that Mohammed was originally affiliated with the EFCC, but subsequently reassigned from the EFCC to the Police force on November 4, 2022.
In a stunning revelation, the individual in question has made a compelling statement before the Court, asserting that the criminal charge, which was officially filed on June 22, 2023, by the legal representative of the Police, purportedly on behalf of the esteemed EFCC, lacks the necessary authority or endorsement from the said agency.
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The counsel dutifully apprised Justice Omotoso of the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the Police lawyer, as per the Judge’s directive. It was further conveyed that the comprehensive findings of this investigation shall be duly documented and submitted to the esteemed Court’s Registry, subsequently becoming accessible to the court.
Justice Omotoso, in a concise and decisive ruling, has set a significant date, namely October 4, 2023, for the esteemed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to duly present the court with the comprehensive report of their meticulous findings. This development holds considerable importance in the ongoing legal proceedings.
On Tuesday, July 11, Justice Omotoso made the decision to transfer the police lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to the lawyer’s alleged filing of baseless criminal charges against the former Minister under the guise of acting on behalf of the EFCC.
The presiding judge astutely identified certain deficiencies in the charges and proceeded to question the legal representative of the police regarding the authorization from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to initiate said charges. The lawyer, in response, admitted to lacking the necessary fiat from the EFCC.
During the course of his interrogation, Mohammed candidly acknowledged his missteps in utilizing the EFCC’s name to initiate the charges, attributing these errors to his fallibility as a human being.