EFCC: We are Ready to Prosecute Oduah

•Commission invites Coscharis, First Bank
officials
Biyi Adedapo
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has expressed its
readiness to investigate and prosecute the
Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, over the
N255 million armoured car scandal.
Towards this end, THISDAY learnt last night
that it has started to invite parties involved in
the transaction, starting from officials of
Coscharis Motors and First Bank of Nigeria
Limited (FBN), for interrogation.
The commission, through its Head of Media
and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, however said
there were procedures to follow.
Uwujaren in a telephone conversation with
THISDAY yesterday in Abuja said the
commission was on top of the situation and
would do everything within the confines of the
EFCC Act to justify its mandate.
“There are procedures to follow in doing these
things; we are already on top of the situation,”
he said.
Asked whether the commission would meet
the November 8 ultimatum issued to it by
human rights lawyer Femi Falana for the
prosecution of Oduah and others, Uwujaren
said Falana's petition was not an issue,
insisting that the commission would carry out
its duties.
“That is not an issue, I have told you that we
are already on top of the situation,” he said.
Uwujaren also dismissed the notion that the
commission would require the approval of the
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and
Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, to
investigate Oduah.
“I am not aware of any clearance required to
probe this case,” he stated.
Falana had on Monday petitioned the EFCC,
demanding that the aviation minister be
prosecuted for corruption.
According to him, it was clear that there was
no appropriation for the acquisition of the
armoured cars in the Appropriation Act, 2013.
Falana also stated that the aviation minister
exceeded her approval limit as only the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) could approve any
transaction of N100 million and above.
Meanwhile, THISDAY learnt yesterday that
officials of Coscharis Motors which had
supplied the armoured cars as well as other
vehicles to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN) are due for interrogation today.
Also, officials of FBN, which provided the lease
financing for the vehicles, were also at the
office of the commission.
A source with Coscharis said their officials
were with the EFCC for several hours and
subjected to all sorts of questioning.
He said their officials were not detained but
the commission said they would be re-invited
should the need arise.
The Chairman of Coscharis, Mr. Cosmas
Maduka, he said, however did not report to the
EFCC as he had travelled overseas for a
business engagement.
Similarly, FBN’s Relationship Manager
responsible for the aviation sector was also
interrogated by the EFCC.
Sources within the commission said the anti-
graft agency would be inviting Oduah, officials
of NCAA and the Nigerian Customs Service in
the next few days.