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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The planned arraignment of former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, witnessed a twist as the court ordered the investigation of the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed the eight-count charge against her.
The former minister, who represented Anambra North at the 9th Assembly, was scheduled to be arraigned before the court on charges bordering on perjury and documents falsification.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/275/2023, Oduah is the sole defendant. However, when the charge was called in court, a mild drama played out as Justice James Omotoso ordered investigation of Prosecution Counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed.
Specifically, the drama began when the matter was called and the counsel announced his appearance for the Nigeria Police Force. He told the court that the defendant was not in court because the investigating police officer (IPO) said Senator Odua could not be served because “she was indisposed and, as a result, we are unable to serve her”.
The judge now inquired to know who signed the charge, which the prosecutor owned. The court further probed whether he was a police officer seconded to EFCC, but had been deployed back to EFCC since November 2022.
He added that he resumed work at the legal department of police headquarters in January, 2023. The court further inquired how the charge was filed in June 2023 by EFCC, but being prosecuted by the police. The judge said, ‘would a reasonable man believe you? You will go to EFCC and explain. I will call for an investigation of the counsel’. The counsel said it was mistakenly put in EFCC, Benin.
In his brief ruling, Justice Omotoso said, “in view of the fact that Ibrahim Mohammed signed this charge on June 22, and having admitted himself to have left EFCC in November 2022. This court made an order that EFCC should investigate and report back. Counsel shall report to EFCC immediately.”
According to the charge, the ex-lawmaker is accused of misrepresenting facts about whether or not she participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and was issued a certificate to that effect.
She was alleged to have falsified documents with which she got into public offices, including being a minister and a senator. She was allegedly aided by one D. A. O. Oshinowo (now at large).
Some of the counts read: “That you, Sen. Stella Oduah and D. A. O. Oshinowo (at large) sometime in 2017 in Abuja, did fabricate an incorrect document with intent to cause … to wit: titled: Re: Request for National Youth Service.
Confirmation with the intention that it may be acted upon as genuine, the representation you knew to be false and, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 156 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under section 158(1) of the same Act.
“That you, Senator Stella Oduah, in 2011, in Abuja, did forward your credential to the Federal Government of Nigeria, among which is an affidavit and extract from police Crime Diary, that you lost your NYSC certificate, the representation you know to be false, which led to your nomination as a Cabinet Minister and, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2)(a) and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act, among others.
