Bullet Proof Cars: EFCC To Make Report On Oduah Public

Ms Stella Oduah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it is still probing sacked minister of aviation, Ms Stella Oduah and will make public its findings into the purchase of two BMW bullet-proof cars by the Nigerian Aviation Civil Authority in 2013 for her at N255million
EFCC head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, stated this at a press conference yesterday at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja. He said that the operatives of the commission were still investigating the scandal uncovered in the aviation ministry by an online outfit under Oduah last year.

Uwaujaren was however silent on whether or not the commission would invite Oduah for interrogation or not, saying that it would be improper for any law enforcement agency like the EFCC to give prior notice of invitation to a suspect.
“I think the issue is not whether we are going to invite Oduah or not. What should interest Nigerians at this time is whether EFCC is on that matter or not. And I can tell you that the commission is on top of that case, we are investigating it and in due course, we shall tell you the outcome of that investigation,” he said.

EFCC had called the press conference to present its records of convictions in economic and financial crimes cases in 2013 to Nigerians. Uwajaren said though the commission was delighted that it secured 117 convictions last year, which is an improvement on the 105 convictions recorded in 2012.
He added that the agency was optimistic that the conviction figure would be higher in 2014, especially with the new practice directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the expeditious handling of corruption cases.

“In 2013, the commission charged a total of 533 cases to court and recorded 117 convictions,” he said.
Among those convicted in 2013 included Pastor Glory Abrefera and Reverend Vincent Okpogo and their company, Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited. The two clerics were found guilty on a four- count charge of carrying out banking practice without licence. The convicts were said to have collected over N1 billion from individuals and organisations as deposits in an illegal investment scheme and failed to account for them. Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State convicted and sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment on each count and a fine of N2 million on each of the counts.

Also on the list is Aminu Sule Lamido, son of the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido. He was convicted on a money laundering charge and asked to forfeit 25 per cent of the undisclosed sum he was arrested with at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport.

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