Ebun Francis
Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday dismissed an application by Mrs Stella Odua, a former Minister of Aviation, seeking for an order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting her with respect to the ongoing investigation into corruption allegation against her.
In his judgment on Wednesday, the hon Justice upheld the objection raised by the EfCC, to the effect that the court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to hear the case. Justice Kafarati stated that no court had the power to stop security agencies from carrying out their duty of investigation.
According to him, “It is not grantable by this court because the court cannot stop security agencies from carrying out their duties. There is no way a person can be investigated without being invited by the body charged with the responsibility of investigation.
“In most cases, the invitation is even in the interest of the invitee because he or she will have the opportunity of giving his or her side of the story.
“I therefore hold that the application seeking to stop security agencies from inviting, investigating, arresting and/or prosecuting any person suspected to have committed an offence does not constitute a fundamental right action.”
The purchase of the armoured vehicles by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority while Oduah was in office as minister of Aviation attracted public outcry because the cost of the vehicles were grossly over inflated and sduah’s Rhe was eventually dropped from the cabinet of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
