EFCC Set to Try Odili, Okonjo-Iweala, Other High Profiled Politicians Over Corruption Charges...See Details

The nation's polity will in the months to come be swamped with various investigations as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to try a number of high profiled Nigerians over corruption allegations.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is keen on reopening all the corruption cases involving top politicians which had either been delayed or stopped through perpetual court injunctions.

 

A top management official at the anti-graft commission, said the hands of the EFCC had been tied as the court shielded such individuals from prosecution, Vanguard reports.

 

It was gathered that one of the top profile politicians, is Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers state who secured a perpetual injunction from a Federal judge barring the EFCC from probing his eight-year tenure over graft allegations leveled against him.

 

The anti-graft commission had filed an appeal against the ruling but it has made no progress since it was filed over four years ago.

 

The top EFCC officer said nothing will stop the Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC from reopening Odili’s case and bringing him to book.

 

“Let it be made clear that the EFCC will go after all cases that are deserving of investigation. There is nothing like perpetual injunctions anymore in our criminal administration justice code," the official said.

 

“We have a duty to investigate all cases since we are empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate all such corruption-related cases and that is what we are asked to do.

 

“We are empowered by Section 15 of the new Criminal Justice Administration Act to investigate all cases irrespective of injunctions. We cannot be stopped.”

 

The source added that those who abused their office by looting the nation’s treasury under the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan would be summoned by the commission to answer questions on why breached public trust.

 

Former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

 

Those to be summoned include, former Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy in the last administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and some former officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who handled the disbursement of funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.