Asset Declaration: FG Files Charges Against Oduah, Uzodinma

The Federal Government yesterday, slammed criminal charges
against Senators Hope Uzodinma from Imo State and Stella Oduah from
Anambra State, following their alleged refusal to declare their
assets.

The two separate charges, were lodged before the Abuja Division
of the Federal High Court by the Special Presidential Investigation
Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, SPIP.

The duo, who are still serving lawmakers, will each answer to a
two-count charge that was okayed by the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

While the charge against Oduah was assigned to Justice Ijeoma
Ojukwu, Senator Uzodinma, who is a factional gubernatorial
flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State, is
expected to take his plea before trial Justice Babatunde
Quadri.

Specifically, the two-count charge against Oduah who recently
defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, marked
FHC/ABJ/CR/110/2018, read: “That you, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah
(F) on or about 29th day of March, 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 (F) on or about 29th day
of March 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, read in
part: “That you, Senator Hope Uzodinma (M) on or about the 5th day
of March 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 Uzodmma (M) on or about 5th day of March
2018 being a public officer that 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.”

It will be recalled that the Chief Okoi Obono-Obla led
Presidential panel had also entered similar charges against the
Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu and the Senator
representing Akwa Ibom North East, Chief Albert Bassey Akpan.