Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has given a directive for the prosecution of a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua and other defendants over an alleged N5bn fraud and financial misappropriation filed by the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.
Malami’s directive was contained in a letter he sent to the Federal High Court in Abuja
Consequently, the Federal High Court ordered an accelerated hearing on the allegation
At a resumed sitting on Wednesday counsel to the EFCC, Dr. Hassan Liman, informed the court that it had concluded all investigations relating to the matter and is ready with 32 witnesses, who can testify in the suit and therefore ready to proceed on the matter.
Senator Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly and eight others, were expected to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation.
At the last sitting, however, Ogwu James Onoja, SAN (counsel to the 7th& 8th defendants) , had informed the court that a petition had already been written to the Attorney General, complaining that the defendants were just being persecuted.
He explained that a letter from the AGF to the EFCC had called for the review of the matter, but the anti-graft agency had refused to return the case file to the AGF as requested by his office.
Onoja had presented the certified true copy of the letter to the judge saying, “There was a petition written to the Attorney General of the Federation, which is a complaint made against this prosecution because we found out that this trial was persecution and we got a response from the AGF.
“The AGF requested for the file and up till now, the EFCC has refused to send the case file to the AGF.” Onoja said.
However, at Wednesday’s sitting the prosecuting counsel announced the AGF’s letter of legal advice to EFCC to continue with the matter.
The letter in which the defendants’ counsels also acknowledged receipt.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned to 13, 14, 15,16 and 17 of February 2023 for accelerated hearing.
He cautioned against undue delays in filling processes.
PIAK
