The National Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has called upon President Bola Tinubu to address unresolved corruption cases and ensure proper prosecution. In extending their congratulations to the new president, the group emphasized the crucial role of the Tinubu administration in combating corruption and financial crimes.
During a press briefing held in Abuja, Comrade Femi Osabinu, the national secretary of the group, specifically highlighted the case of former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah, who is currently facing allegations of fraud. Osabinu expressed the belief that taking decisive action in this matter would set a clear direction for the country in the next four years.
Senator Oduah is currently standing trial alongside eight others on various charges, including conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with First Bank Plc. Osabinu stated, “As a not-for-profit non-governmental organization comprised of patriotic Nigerians, our unwavering commitment to ensuring that public funds allocated for the betterment of our citizens are used judiciously and accounted for necessitates our active involvement in the face of this blatant alleged misappropriation of our collective wealth.”
Furthermore, Osabinu expressed disappointment in the prolonged proceedings of the corruption case involving Senator Oduah and others before Justice Ekwo at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He described it as a significant disgrace to the anti-corruption campaign led by the APC-led federal government and a blemish on the reputation of the judiciary. The international community, including observers such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and global anti-corruption agencies, is closely monitoring the outcome of the case.
Osabinu called on President Tinubu to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure the proper arraignment of Oduah for the swift resolution of the fraud charges brought against her by the federal government. Additionally, he urged President Tinubu to initiate an independent investigation into the reasons why Senator Stella Oduah and her co-defendants have not been brought to trial for nearly 30 months. Despite the EFCC concluding its investigations and filing the case of conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts against them at the Federal High Court in Abuja, no progress has been made in the trial.