Court hands over Oduah’s N5 billion suit to AGF amid controversy
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to take over the N5 billion suit that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred against Sen. Stella Oduah and others after their arraignment.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order shortly after the defendants entered their non-guilty pleas, citing the controversy generated by the case since its institution.
On June 15, Justice Ekwo had instructed the EFCC to identify the individuals behind the breach of his privacy through text messages on his phone, as well as those who petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) regarding the ongoing suit.
The judge also directed the deputy chief registrar of the Federal High Court in charge of Litigation to cooperate with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in obtaining the identities of the promoters of the organization involved in bringing them to court, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the court.
This development had caused a delay in the arraignment of the defendants, as Justice Ekwo insisted that the anti-graft agency must produce the individuals responsible for the actions in court.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned until July 17.
On that day, the EFCC’s counsel, Hassan Liman, SAN, urged the court to allow the defendants to take their plea while the agency continued its investigation.
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Liman revealed that the EFCC had identified the person who sent the message to the judge via a telephone number. The individual in question was identified as Okolo Obinna Johnson, a promoter of two companies.
However, Liman informed the court that despite their efforts, the EFCC had been unable to physically locate Okolo Obinna Johnson in collaboration with other security agencies.
Unsatisfied with this information, Justice Ekwo insisted that the EFCC should produce Okolo Obinna Johnson before proceeding with the arraignment.
Furthermore, the judge provided Liman with details of the Anti-Corruption Network, the group that wrote the petition to the CJN. He stated that the order to arrest the person behind the petition was still in effect.
Liman appealed for the defendants to be allowed to take their plea while the investigation into the letter and text messages continued.
The judge granted Liman’s request and adjourned the matter until the following day for the plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel for the EFCC, Hassan Liman, SAN, requested the court to allow the defendants to take their plea, considering that the charge had been filed against them since December 17, 2020.
The ex-lawmaker, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, is being charged alongside Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere. Other defendants include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd, and another.
Oduah was arraigned on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation during her tenure as Minister in the Jonathan Administration.
Upon resuming the hearing on Friday, EFCC’s lawyer, Offem Uket, confirmed that the matter was for plea and that they were prepared. The defense lawyers, including Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Ogwu Onoja, SAN, stated their readiness as well.
NAN reported that only the counsel for the 5th and 6th defendants were absent in court, and a non-guilty plea was entered for them and other defendants (7th, 8th, and 9th defendants) that were companies mentioned in the charge.
After the 25-count charge was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty, and the judge granted them bail based on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
Justice Ekwo then asked EFCC’s lawyer, Uket, about the directive to produce the persons behind the actions that had previously stalled the trial. Uket was unable to give a direct answer to the questions.
The judge decided to give a date for trial commencement while emphasizing that the EFCC must invite the affected individuals responsible for interfering in the proceedings.
He warned journalists against reporting inaccuracies and clarified that the records of proceedings were available for access.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until October 17 for trial, and he made an order for the AGF to take over the case while the EFCC handed over the records of proceedings to the office of the AGF due to the controversy surrounding the matter.
NAN
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