Femi Falana Gives EFCC 1 week Ultimatum To Investigate Aviation Minister, "Stella Oduah" Or Face Lawsuit

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One of Nigeria's most prominent legal activists, Femi Falana, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate how Aviation Minister Stella Oduah used $1.6 million (N255 million) to purchase two armored BMW cars. In a letter to the EFCC titled “Request for Investigation of economic crimes of fraud and extortion of the sum of N255 million by the Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah,” Mr. Falana stated that the EFCC was “undoubtedly aware the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, recently caused the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase two bullet proof vehicles on her behalf at a high price of N255 million.

Continue after the break.

” He described the purchase of the two cars being an “outrageous prodigal action,” and dismissed the excuse made available from the minister's spokesman, Joe Obi, to the result that the cars were bought because “Ms. Oduah's life has been under threat due to the so-called reforms in the aviation sector.” 

In the letter, which was signed by Samuel Ogala, Mr. Falana noted: “Apart from the fact the said threat to the life of the Minister was never reported to the police, the extortion of the sum of N255 million from the NCAA, a parastatal beneath the Ministry of Aviation, is fraudulent in every attorneys material particular.”

He drew the EFCC's focus on the fact “the said sum of N255 million wasn't appropriated by the National Assembly as the officials of the NCAA who authorized the expenditure of the sum of N255 million exceeded their approval limit.” He also accused Ms. Oduah of grossly abusing “her office by extorting the sum of N225 million from the NCAA.”

He asked the anti-corruption agency to “investigate the economic crimes of fraud and extortion committed by the Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah, and her cohorts in the NCAA.” He added he would file case at the Federal High Court seeking an order to compel the EFCC to carry out its statutory duty if the agency fails to behave next seven days.