The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disassociated itself from lawyer Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed forgery charges against former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, in the name of the anti-graft agency.
In a statement made on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the EFCC clarified that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police, was not authorized to file any criminal charges or prosecute Oduah in any criminal matter on behalf of the EFCC.
Helen Okonofun, counsel for the EFCC, informed Justice James Omotoso that the police lawyer had been investigated by the EFCC, as per the judge’s order from last week. The findings of this investigation would be submitted to the court registry and made available to the court afterward.
The EFCC’s representative clarified that Mohammed was formerly associated with the EFCC but was redeployed to the police headquarters on November 4, 2022, and hasn’t been involved with the EFCC since then.
Justice Omotoso, in a brief ruling, scheduled October 4, 2023, for the EFCC to officially present the report of its findings to the court.
It’s worth noting that the judge had previously instructed the EFCC to investigate Mohammed and ascertain whether he had the authority to file charges against Oduah.
The lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed, filed eight charges against the former minister, accusing her of forging a National Youth Service Corps certificate. However, during the court proceedings, Justice Omotoso noticed some irregularities in the process.
The judge started to question the lawyer about whether he had received authorization from the EFCC to file the charges. Mohammed responded negatively and seemed unclear while answering the judge’s inquiries. He eventually admitted that he had mistakenly filed the charges in the name of the EFCC.
In response to the charges, the ex-minister, Stella Oduah, through her lawyer, James Onoja (SAN), expressed that the charges were unfamiliar and unusual.
According to Onoja, the charges against his client “have no proof of evidence bearing her statement as required by law.”
