The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from a police lawyer named Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed criminal charges against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah.
During proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the EFCC stated that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police, did not have the mandate or authorization to file charges against Mrs. Oduah, who represents Anambra North in the Senate. The EFCC’s counsel, Heleen Okonofua, informed Justice James Omotoso that Mohammed, who claimed to be from the Legal Department of the Force Headquarters, was not authorized by the anti-graft agency to represent them in prosecuting Mrs. Oduah in any criminal matter.
Okonofua clarified that Mohammed was previously with the EFCC but was de-seconded to the Police on November 4, 2022, and has since had no association with the EFCC. The EFCC’s counsel also revealed that the agency had investigated Mohammed, as ordered by the judge, and that a report of the findings would be filed at the court’s registry and made available to the court at a later date. Justice Omotoso scheduled October 4, 2023, for the EFCC to officially submit the report of its findings to the court.
Earlier, on July 11, Justice Omotoso had handed over the police lawyer to the EFCC after noticing flaws in the charges and questioning his authority to file them on behalf of the EFCC, to which Mohammed responded in the negative. Mohammed, who appeared confused while answering the judge’s questions, admitted to making errors by using the name of the EFCC to file the charges, attributing it to his fallibility as a human being.