ABUJA—STRONG indications emerged, weekend, former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, is still a long way from heaving a sigh of relief following plans by both the Senate and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reopen investigation into his alleged misappropriation of N100 billion. To actualize this, the Senate has moved to amend the EFCC Act.
It will be recalled that former Governor Peter Odili had secured a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from prosecuting or arresting him.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, weekend, when he led other committee members on a surprise oversight visit to the South-South regional office of the anti-graft agency, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, explained that with the amendment bill of the EFCC Act and when passed, it would upturn the injunction.
This would reopen investigations into alleged misappropriation of N100 billion by Dr. Odili when he was governor of Rivers State between 1999 and 2007. Senator Utazi, who noted that it was wrong for one arm of government to stop another from performing its constitutional roles, stressed that the amendment would give the anti-graft agency the power to by-pass the injunction.
The decision of the Senate committee came up, following a request by the South-South regional coordinator of EFCC, Mr. Ishaq Salihu, that the Senate should assist in reopening the investigation and possibly prosecuting Odili. Utazi said: “The House of Representatives has done its bit on the amendment of EFCC Act. It has come to us.
The amendments effected in the House of Representatives were not exhaustive. We are going to look into this (issuance of perpetual injunction) issue with a view to correcting it.
“Nobody should stop an organ of government from performing its duties. We want to empower them (EFCC) to work.
They cannot work with one hand tied to the back. ‘’We are going to ensure that everything is done in accordance with the rule of law. Nobody should be shortchanged.” South-South regional head of EFCC, Mr. Ishaq, had revealed that the injunction was affecting the morale of operatives in the area, as well as prosecution of other suspects fingered in the matter.
“The perpetual injunction of Odili is a problem for us. Because of that injunction, it means we cannot invite anybody related to the case to give any testimony.”
Vanguard
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Nothing lasts forever, No matter how perpetual it is.