The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has admitted that it is not investigating Stella Oduah despite the public outcry concerning her corruption scandal, due to fears that the President may sanction them over such an attempt.
A source at the EFCC said, “If the President wants us to probe her, there would be no need for him to set up a three-man panel to probe her. Why set up a panel when the nation has capable anti-graft agencies?
“Ordinarily, the President should have asked us to take over the case instead of constituting his own panel. If you watch his body language, you will know that he does not want us to step in.
“We will wait for the report of the panel and the final report of the House of Representatives. That is when we will know what to do. The truth is that we are not fully autonomous anti-graft agencies and that is a major handicap.”
Another source said the EFCC did not want to “incur the wrath of Mr. President.”
“We are doing our best in this situation but this is a peculiar situation because the President has asked his committee to investigate her. Even though we don’t need the President’s directive based on the public outcry but the formation of that three-man panel passes a subtle message. We are also waiting for the report of the House and the President’s panel even though we are questioning the aviation agencies.”
In a related development, the aviation minister is scheduled to appear before the Presidential panel set up to probe her involvement in the BMW scandal. The panel chaired by former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Isa Bello, also comprises National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.).
Bello said they would meet with the minister on Monday.
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