The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disowned a police lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed, who filed criminal charges against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah.
The anti-graft agency told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that Mohammed was not authorised to file the charges against Oduah.
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EFCC’s counsel, Heleen Okonofua, said that Mohammed was de-seconded from the EFCC back to the Police on November 4, 2022, and had since had nothing to do with the agency.
She also said that the criminal charge filed on June 22, 2023, by Mohammed in the name of EFCC has no authority or approval of the agency.
Justice James Omotoso had on July 11 handed the police lawyer over to the EFCC for filing frivolous criminal charges against Oduah.
The judge had queried the police lawyer on whether he had the fiat of EFCC to file the charges, which he answered negatively.
Mohammed admitted errors in using the name of EFCC to file the charges, saying that he is a human being prone to errors.
The EFCC has said that it will investigate Mohammed and report its findings to the court.
The case has been adjourned to October 4, 2023.
Oduah, the Minister of Aviation from 2011 to 2015, is facing charges of money laundering and forgery.