The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, disowned Ibrahim Mohammed, a police lawyer, who filed a criminal charge against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah.
It was gathered that the anti-graft agency told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police was not mandated to file any criminal charges against the Senator, representing Anambra North in the Senate.
EFCC’s counsel, Heleen Okonofua informed Justice James Omotoso that the lawyer who claimed to have come from the Legal Department of the Force Headquarters was not authorized by the anti-graft agency to represent it to prosecute Senator Oduah in any criminal matter, adding that Mohammed was initially with the EFCC but was de-seconded from EFCC back to the Police on November 4, 2022, and had since had nothing to do with the EFCC.
Okonofua also told the Court that the criminal charge filed on June 22, 2023, by the lawyer in the name of EFCC has no authority or approval of the agency, while informing Justice Omotoso that Ibrahim had been investigated by EFCC as ordered by the Judge and that the report of the findings would be filed at the Registry of the Court and be made available to the court thereafter.
However, Justice Omotoso, in a short ruling, fixed October 4, 2023, for the EFCC to formally make the report of the findings available to the court.
Justice Omotoso had on Tuesday, July 11 handed the police lawyer over to the EFCC for filing frivolous criminal charges against the former Minister in the name of EFCC.
The Judge while he noticed some flaws in the charges, queried the police lawyer on whether he had the fiat of EFCC to file the charges which he answered negatively.
Mohammed who became incoherent while answering questions from the Judge admitted errors in using the name of EFCC to file the charges adding that he is a human being prone to errors.