Revealed:- EFCC & ICPC Are Scared To Probe Stella Oduah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences
Commission (EFCC and ICPC) are at a crossroads over
investigation into the purchase of N255m bullet-proof
cars for the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella
Oduah.
Here is what a top source in the anti-corruption
agencies said:
“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.”
Oduah on Thursday had denied that the NCAA bought
the two bulletproof cars for her use, adding that they
were bought for the use of the guests of her ministry.
Punch gathered on Friday that EFCC and ICPC were
reluctant to invite the minister for questioning because of
her close relationship to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Oduah is one of the President’s closest aides following
the significant role she played in Jonathan’s 2011
election campaign.
There have been reports that the two anti-graft agencies
have launched investigation into Oduah’s role in the
controversial vehicle purchase. However, Punch learnt
that none of the two anti-graft agencies had made any
significant progress in its investigation.
A senior official of the ICPC, who spoke to Punch over the
weekend, blamed the slow pace of investigation on what
he described as the “body language of the President.”
The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not
authorised to speak on the matter, 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?
Punch also gathered that the EFCC was treading carefully
and had no plan to invite Oduah to its Abuja office for
questioning. A senior agency official who pleaded
anonymity said the agency “did not want to incur the
wrath of the President”.
The source said, “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.