There are indications that Nigerian Senate and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are set to vacate the perpetual restraining injunction to investigate and prosecute his alleged misappropriation of N100 billion.
It will be recalled that former Governor Peter Odili had secured a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from prosecuting or arresting him. Odili was Governor of oil-rich Rivers State between 1999-2007
Senator Chukwuka Utazi, 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, , explained that with the amendment bill of the EFCC Act and when passed, it would upturn the injunction.
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.”
