Femi Falana Demands EFCC Investigate Aviation Minister Or Face Lawsuit

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 "no
doubt aware the Minister of Aviation, Ms.
Stella Oduah, recently caused the Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase
two bullet proof vehicles for her at a cost
of N255 million."

He described the purchase of the two cars as
an "outrageous prodigal action," and
dismissed the excuse offered by the
minister's spokesman, Joe Obi, to the effect
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 that 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 under the
Ministry of Aviation, is fraudulent in every
material particular."

He drew the EFCC's attention to the fact
that "the said sum of N255 million was not
appropriated by the National Assembly while
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 that he would file a
lawsuit at the Federal High Court seeking an
order to compel the EFCC to carry out its
statutory duty if the agency fails to act
within the next seven days.

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