Group Gives EFCC 14 Days Ultimatum To Arrest, Prosecute Oduah

Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs) under the banner of Say No Campaign (SNC) yesterday gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a 14-day ultimatum to arrest and prosecute the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah over the N225 million bulletproof cars scandal.

Speaking at a joint press conference addressed by co-conveners Ezenwa Nwagwu, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Samson Itodo and Jaye Gaskia, the SNC berated President Goodluck Jonathan for being insensitive to the plight and angst of Nigerians by protecting the embattled minister and refusing to make public or act on the report of the presidential investigative committee he set up.

"Similarly, the House of Representatives responded by constituting its own committee to investigate the issue. The House Representative Committee has subsequently released a report indicting the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah. The report amongst others recognized that the transactions relating to the purchase were not captured and approved in the 2013 Appropriation Act", the group noted.
While citing provisions including Sections 6 and 7 (1) of the EFCC Act mandating it to act in cases such as that involving the bulletproof cars scandal, the group expressed worry over the absence of the political will to prosecute Oduah despite her clear indictment.

"We therefore demand that the EFCC exercises its powers by conducting an investigation into the aforementioned issue; that EFCC arrest the indicted Minister for Aviation Mrs. Stella Oduah for prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction. Should the EFCC refrain from taking the appropriate and required action; The Say No Campaign will not hesitate to institute a legal action against the Commission within 14 days", they said.