Former aviation minister ‘unaware’ of charge
There was mild drama at the Federal High Sitting in Abuja, yesterday, as Justice James Omotoso ordered investigation of prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed an eight-count charge bothering on felony and alleged forgery against a former aviation minister, Stella Oduah.
It began when the matter was called and the counsel announced his appearance for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). He said the defendant was not in court because the investigating police officer claimed Oduah could not be served, as she was indisposed.
The judge sought to know who signed the charge. The prosecutor said he was a police officer seconded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but had been deployed back to the NPF. Mohammed added that he resumed at the legal department of the police headquarters, January 2023.
The court further inquired how the charge was filed in June 2023 by the EFCC, while the case was prosecuted by the police. The counsel said he mistakenly put EFCC, Benin.
‘Would a reasonable man believe you? You will go to the EFCC and explain. I will call for an investigation of the counsel,” the judge replied.
In his brief ruling, Omotoso said: “In view of the fact that Ibrahim Mohammed signed this charge on June 22, and having admitted to have left EFCC in November 2022. This court makes an order for the EFCC to investigate and report back. The counsel shall report to the EFCC immediately.”
The matter was adjourned to July 18.
Meanwhile, Oduah has said she was not aware of any fresh criminal charge brought against her.
Oduah insisted that apart from not being served with the purported charge, she was never subjected to any kind of investigation by the police or any other security agency in the country.
Addressing a press conference, on her behalf, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief James Ogwu Onoja, said Oduah was not invited to make any statement by any agency of government before spurious charges were made by one Ochogwu Ogbe and Ibrahim Mohammed, who claimed to be lawyers with the police.
