The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Friday ordered the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to take over the N5 billion suit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against Stella Oduah and others after their arraignment.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order shortly after the defendants took their non-guilty plea and said the order was necessary given the controversy the case had generated since instituted.

Mr Ekwo had, on June 15, ordered the EFCC to fish out persons behind breaching his privacy through text messages on his phone and another group who petitioned the chief justice of Nigeria regarding the ongoing suit.

The judge also directed the deputy chief registrar of the FHC in charge of litigation to liaise with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to obtain the identities of the promoters of the organisation to bring them to the court, saying the sanctity of the court must be maintained.

The development had stalled the arraignment of the defendants, as the judge insisted that the anti-graft agency must produce the people behind such action in court.

But on July 17, counsel who appeared for EFCC, Hassan Liman, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendants to take their plea, having filed the charge against them on December 17, 2020.

Upon resumed hearing on Friday, EFCC’s lawyer, Offem Uket, informed that the matter was for a plea and that they were ready.

Defence lawyers, including Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN; Ogwu Onoja, SAN, and others, said they were ready too.

Only counsel for the fifth and sixth defendants were not in court, and a non-guilty plea was entered for them and other defendants (seventh, eighth and ninth defendants) that were companies in the charge.

After the 25-count charge was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty, and the judge admitted them to bail in terms of the administrative bail earlier granted then by the EFCC.

Justice Ekwo then asked EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Uket, about the directive he gave to produce persons behind the action that had earlier stalled the trial.

Mr Ekwo then said that though he would give a date for trial commencement, the EFCC must invite the affected people.

“I will give a date for trial and make a consequential order because you have allowed this matter to degenerate this way.

“You think you can shield any of these persons who have interfered in these proceedings?” he asked rhetorically.

Justice Ekwo, who adjourned the matter until October 17 for trial, ordered that given the controversy the case had generated, “I make an order that the AGF shall take over this case and the EFCC shall hand over the records of proceedings to the office of the AGF.”

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, is being charged alongside Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

Others include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, and Sobora International Ltd.

Ms Oduah was arraigned on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation while she served as minister during the Jonathan administration.

(NAN)