Stella Oduah Speaks On Felony Charge Against Her

A former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, has denied knowledge of any fresh criminal charge filed against her by the Federal Government.

Naija News reports that the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave the denial in a statement issued on Wednesday through her legal counsel, James Onoja.

The former minister expressed surprise that the government did not invite her for questioning nor serve her with the notice of the suit before going to court on Tuesday.

According to Oduah, she only found out on social media that the government filed a fresh felony charge against her.

The statement reads: “First and foremost, our client is not aware of the charge.

“No investigation of any kind was carried out, whether by the Nigerian police or any security agency.

“She was not invited to make any statement by any of the security agencies.

“This position is supported by the fact that no proof of evidence bearing her statement is annexed to or accompanies the charge. Not even a staff of the NYSC is being proposed as a witness in the charge being flaunted around.

“The two lawyers who filed the suit, Ochogwu Ogbe and Ibrahim Mohammed, failed to affix their practising seals as required by the profession.”

Onoja said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does not have the power to prosecute any forgery case, saying that the agency has denied knowledge of the charge.

He described the alleged charge is a plan to suffer Oduah and create confusion, adding that the charge was politically motivated and a gender-based political attack on his client.

He said: “The EFCC does not have the powers to prosecute an offence under the penal code and there are so many decided authorities on that.

“The charge does not allege any offence under the EFCC Act. The forgery of a certificate has nothing to do with the EFCC.

“We have been to the EFCC headquarters for investigation but they denied knowledge of the charge. They also acknowledged the fact that it is not within their powers to prosecute someone with an alleged forged certificate.

“The spurious allegations against our client of not participating in NYSC have been dismissed by the Supreme Court in a civil matter in her favour.

“The fresh charge against my client is a violation of the Code of Conduct for prosecutors as issued by the Federal Ministry of Justice and punishable under Article 7, part B of the Code.”