EFCC and ICPC Are Scared To Probe Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (EFCC and ICPC) are at a crossroads over investigation into the purchase of N255m bullet-proof cars for the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

Here is what a top source in the anti-corruption agencies said, “Ordinarily, the President should have asked us to take over the case instead of constituting his own panel. If you watch his body language, you will know that he does not want us to step in.

“We will wait for the report of the panel and the final report of the House of Representatives. That is when we will know what to do. The truth is that we are not fully autonomous anti-graft agencies and that is a major handicap.”
Oduah on Thursday had denied that the NCAA bought the two bulletproof cars for her use, adding that they
were bought for the use of the guests of her ministry.

Punch gathered on Friday that EFCC and ICPC were reluctant to invite the minister for questioning because of her close relationship to President Goodluck Jonathan. Oduah is one of the President’s closest aides following the significant role she played in Jonathan’s 2011 election campaign.

There have been reports that the two anti-graft agencies have launched investigation into Oduah’s role in the controversial vehicle purchase. However, Punch learnt that none of the two anti-graft agencies had made any significant progress in its investigation.

A senior official of the ICPC, who spoke to Punch over the weekend, blamed the slow pace of investigation on what he described as the “body language of the President.”

The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “If the President wants us to probe her, there would be no need for him to set up a three-man panel to probe her. Why set up a panel when the nation has capable anti-graft agencies?

Punch also gathered that the EFCC was treading carefully and had no plan to invite Oduah to its Abuja office for questioning. A senior agency official who pleaded anonymity said the agency “did not want to incur the wrath of the President”.

The source said, “We are doing our best in this situation but this is a peculiar situation because the President has asked his committee to investigate her. Even though we don’t need the President’s directive based on the public outcry but the formation of that three-man panel passes a subtle message."