The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from a lawyer, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed a new charge against Senator Stella Oduah, accusing her of perjury and document falsification in the name of the anti-graft agency.
During a court session before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja, EFCC’s counsel, H. A Okonofua, clarified that the commission did not authorize Mohammed to prosecute Oduah, the sole defendant in the case.
Upon resuming the hearing, both Mohammed and Oduah were absent from court. Okonofua informed the judge that the investigation report conducted by the anti-corruption agency was ready. However, the report had not been submitted to the court, drawing attention to the delay.
Acknowledging the delay, the lawyer admitted that the report was filed late. In response, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until October 4, 2023, to ensure that the investigation report is before the court.
On July 10, 2023, the EFCC had planned to arraign Oduah before Justice Omotosho on charges of perjury and document falsification. However, during the arraignment on July 11, Mohammed, a police officer appearing for the EFCC, admitted to an error in filing the charge in the name of the anti-graft agency. He revealed that he had been seconded to the EFCC but was redeployed back to the Force Headquarters in November of the previous year. Consequently, he mistakenly signed the charge in the name of the EFCC Office in Benin.
As a result of the error, the judge ordered Mohammed’s arrest and investigation by the EFCC. The case remains an ongoing legal matter, raising questions about the handling of charges and its implications for both the anti-graft agency and Senator Stella Oduah.
