FG Slams Criminal Charges against Senators Uzodimma, Oduah

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIPRPP) has filed criminal charges against Senators Hope Uzodimma and Stella Oduah, over their alleged failure to declare their assets as public office holders.

The panel, in the two count criminal charges filed against each of them before the Federal High Court, Abuja, accused Uzodimma and Oduah of refusing and neglecting to declare their assets before the SPIPRPP, an offence punishable by law under the 2004 Act, which established the panel.

While the charge against Oduah has been assigned to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the one filed against Uzodimma is assigned to Justice Babatunde Quadri.

The charge against Oduah, marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/110/2018 reads: “That you, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah on or about March 29, 2018 being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refused to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.

“That you, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah on or about March 29, 2018 being a pubic officer with the National Assembly Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglected to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004”.

The one against Uzodinma, marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/107/2018, reads: “That you, Senator Hope Uzodimma on or about March 5, 2018 being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refused to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.

“That you Senator Hope Uzodimma on or about March 5, 2018 being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglected to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”