Senator Oduah Returns From APC To The Dock

Stakeholders in Anambra State are casting focus on the intrigues surrounding the corruption case levelled against the former All Progressives Congress, APC lawmaker, Senator Stella Oduah following her joining and then defection from the APC.

The concern of the stakeholders is the near coincidences with which the prosecution has been shadowed with her political adventure into and out of the ruling party.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that the prosecution of the case which went into a limbo after nearly seven months resurrected on Tuesday with the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF submitting a letter to the presiding judge to go on with the case.

Before then, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF who ordinarily does not and is not expected to mingle politics with prosecution of criminal cases had brought a hiatus to the prosecution of the case last November.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that the defence counsel had, on Nov. 22, 2021, raised objection to Oduah and other defendants taking their plea. The basis of their opposition was a petition written to the AGF, complaining that the defendants were just being persecuted as against prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC

The development prompted the court to adjourn to await a response from the AGF.

As the AGF sat on the petition the trial stalled. Remarkably the petition was written just after Senator Oduah went to the national secretariat of the ruling APC on August 26, 2021 and pledged her membership of the party.

In defecting to the APC, Senator Oduah had said that she did so to change the narrative in the Southeast.

She assured the APC leadership that she had “defected to the APC along with her multitude of supporters who have been in jubilation in Anambra State.”

However, her presence and the ‘multitude of her supporters’ were of little regard as the APC came a distant third in the governorship election.

So after eight months in the ruling party and perhaps given the poor visibility of the APC in Anambra State, Senator Oduah walked back to her former party.

Oduah’s return to the PDP from the APC was formalized on Wednesday, April 28th, when she faced the party’s screening committee in Abuja as she prepared to seek a third straight term in office as Senator representing Anambra North.

Underpinning her return to the PDP a statement from her media aide noted that Oduah after consulting with various leaders in the PDP and, “considering her political strengths amid new developments across the country returned to the party where she’s highly regarded.”

The defection it was gathered made many leaders of the APC in Abuja angry.

However, whether that was responsible for the change in gear in the prosecution of her alleged N5 billion has not been explained.

So, when the case resumed on Tuesday, May 10, the long delayed response to the petition raised by the defence team was ready.

Indeed, upon resumption of the matter, counsel to the EFCC, Hassan Liman, SAN, informed that the AGF had responded to the petition and given a nod for the matter to proceed.

“The charge was filed on Dec. 16, 2020. Since then, the plea of the defendants has not been taken,” he said.

“I confirm that the AGF has acknowledged the receipt of their letter and he has asked the court to proceed on the trial.

“In view of the response by the AGF, may I apply for a plea of the defendants to be taken,” he said.

But counsel to all the defendants, said they were unaware of the AGF’s response.

The judge, who said he was also yet to see the letter, then directed Liman to avail the defence and the court with copies of the AGF letter.

After copies of the letter were given to all, Justice Ekwo said he was unsatisfied with Paragraph 2 of the AGF letter.

“I am not satisfied with the second paragraph of the letter,” he said.

Ekwo, who said he would adjourn the matter so that the prosecution could resolve the issue completely with the AGF, said this would help the court to know whether the trial could go on or be stopped.

He then fixes Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 for the trial.

NAN reports that Paragraph two of the letter dated May 6 and addressed to the EFCC chairman reads: “I am further directed to inform you that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation is reviewing the case file and a decision will be communicated in due course.

“Meanwhile, you are to proceed with the prosecution of the case in court pending the decision of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.”

Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was expected to be arraigned by the EFCC on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation

other defendants in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

They also include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.

They are being charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

They will be arraigned on 25-count charge.

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