Court restrains EFCC, ICPC from arresting Oduah

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …
A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained anti-graft agencies from inviting former minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah for questioning over purchase of two bullet proof BMW cars in 2013.
The purchase of the cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at N255million sparked public outrage.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting Oduah until her suit is determined.
The judge also stopped the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police from inviting the former minister for interrogation.
A copy of the order made on August 26 was obtained by our correspondent.
Oduah, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate, said there was a move by the respondents to persecute and humiliate her.
She explained that the vehicles were bought for the use of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) officials who were in the country to inspect and certify the 22 airports being rehabilitated under her watch.
According to her, the vehicles were acquired to safeguard the foreign officials so that they would not be bombed, attacked or abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.
Oduah said the bullet proof cars were especially necessary because the visit of the airport inspectors coincided with “the peak of Boko Haram terrorists’ menace in the country when the United Nations building and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force were bombed in Abuja.”

Read also: Legal battle for full disclosure on Oduah’s bullet proof cars rages

“It was thus imperative that the NCAA, which is an apex regulatory authority in the Nigerian aviation industry, operating under the SARPs of the ICAO and subject to assessment by ICAO, acquire its own armoured vehicles for the use of the ICAO officials coming for inspection and certification at the time,” Oduah said.
She added that the bullet-proof vehicles were captured in the 2013 budget, adding that they were duly procured in line with the Bureau of Public Procurement regulations.
The ex-minister said upon her assumption of office in 2011, she “quickly realised that the quest for direct foreign investment in Nigeria could not be optimally successful without world standard airports for international and domestic air travels.”
Because of this, she said, she directed that the proposal of N9billion made for the rehabilitation of four airports be made to cover the 22 airports.
Justice Yunusa adjourned to October 2 for hearing of her suit.

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