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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially disassociated itself from lawyer Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed forgery charges against former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, using the anti-graft agency’s name.
On Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police, did not have the authority to file criminal charges against Oduah or prosecute her in any criminal case.
Helen Okonofun, the counsel representing the EFCC, informed Justice James Omotoso that the police lawyer had undergone investigation by the EFCC, as directed by the judge the previous week.
It was mentioned that after being filed at the court registry, the report of the findings will be disclosed to the court.
The counsel clarified that Mohammed was initially affiliated with the EFCC but was later reassigned to the police headquarters on November 4, 2022, and has remained uninvolved with the EFCC ever since.
Read also: NYSC Certificate: EFCC To Arraign Stella Oduah Tuesday
In a succinct ruling, Justice Omotoso decided on October 4, 2023, as the designated day for the EFCC to officially furnish the court with the report of the findings.
It should be recalled that last Tuesday, the judge had directed the EFCC to probe Mohammed and establish whether he possessed the authorization to file charges against Oduah.
His charges against the ex-minister encompassed eight counts, focusing on the accusation of forging a National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Noticing inconsistencies in the court process, the judge started asking questions to gain clarity on the matter.
Justice Omotoso raised a query to the lawyer, seeking confirmation on whether he had been granted permission by the EFCC to file the charges.
In response to the questions, Mohammed’s answers were largely incoherent, and he admitted to mistakenly filing the charges in the name of the EFCC.
According to Onoja, the charges against his client ‘have no proof of evidence bearing her statement as required by law.’
Oduah, speaking through her lawyer, James Onoja (SAN), expressed her lawyer’s last week, deemed the charges as unprecedented.
