Expdonaloaded News; Bulletproof cars: Court stops EFCC, others from inviting Oduah

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stay action in connection with the BMW bullet proof cars allegedly bought by Senator Stella Oduah, while serving as minister of aviation. Oduah served under the immediate past administration of president Goodluck Jonathan. The court restrained EFCC, and other agencies from taking action relating to the probe of Oduah on the controversial vehicles, pending the hearing and determination of fundamental rights suit filed before the court.
The court’s order, dated August 26, 2015, was sequel to a motion ex-parte marked FHC/L/CS/1342/2014, filed before the court by Oduah, the senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Joined in the fundamental rights suit are; the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and Inspector-General of the Federation, IGP, as first, third and fourth respondents. The court also granted leave to Senator Oduah, who was the Minister of Aviation between 2011 and 2013, to serve the originating processes and all other processes meant for service in the suit to all the respondents outside Lagos State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Oduah, in her statement of claim, stated that there was a move by the respondents, doing the bidding of her political adversaries, to persecute, prosecute and humiliate her. She said this persecution, which began in the build-up to the 2015 general elections, was spearheaded by the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who was then the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman, House Committee. According to Oduah, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a desperate bid to capture power, began a campaign of calumny by “demonising the most visible leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including myself and others who were seen as pivotal to the re-election bid of then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.” She also stated that as part of APC’s campaign of calumny, the party’s leadership commissioned some faceless organisations to write letters to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, accusing her of “all manners of corrupt practices and offences in respect of my stewardship as Minister of Aviation.” Oduah said despite her selfless service and the immense progress made under her watch, including the revamping of the country’s air transportation, Tambuwal still ordered her investigation based on the petitions containing “spurious and wild allegations.” The serving senator further stated that because of her electoral value and strategic politicking, she had been a target of the ploy by the APC to depopulate the PDP and distract its leaders with trumped up charges. According to her, part of the APC plan was to charge PDP leaders “in a criminal trial in a Lagos State Government-controlled court.” She, however, explained that the two BMW bullet proof cars purchased for N160million, was for the purpose of conveying officials of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, who were in the country at the time for the routine inspection and certification of the 22 airports in the country, which were being rehabilitated under her watch.