ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, has ordered the arrest and investigation of a prosecutor who filed a criminal charge against former Senator Stella Oduah, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District (PDP, APC).
The charges were based on allegations of forgery of her National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificate.
Upon examining the charge, Justice James Omotosho discovered that the prosecutor, who filed the charge on June 22, 2023, presented himself as a staff member of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
However, the EFCC confirmed that the individual had been discharged from its legal unit in November 2022.
“The court was taken aback as to why the prosecutor would deliberately mislead the court, having left the service of the EFCC more than six months before the charge was filed,” said Justice Omotosho.
He also questioned the absence of the legal practitioner’s seal, which would verify his standing as a lawyer admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
Given the irregularities surrounding the charge, the judge handed the prosecutor over to the court officer. Justice Omotosho then issued an order for the court officers to transfer the prosecutor to the EFCC for investigation.
The EFCC has been directed to investigate why the prosecutor was discharged and to deliver a report to the court as soon as possible.
Upon further examination, the charge appears to be politically motivated, as it discloses no fraud or other offense.
“The court sees this as a desperation that led a prosecutor to deliberately mislead the court in order to persecute a woman for political gains or to settle political scores. It is indeed troubling,” remarked Justice Omotosho.
The court’s action marks a clear stand against the misuse of judicial processes for political ends.
