Ex-Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah Arraigned For N2.5 Billion Fraud

Former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah was on Wednesday, December 10, arraigned by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on charges related to an alleged N2.5 billion fraud.

She was arraigned alongside Gloria Odita, with whom she is also standing trial in a separate N5 billion money laundering case before another court.

The five counts filed against the defendants relate to alleged offences committed in January 2014, about a month before Oduah left office following a procurement scandal.

Oduah served as Minister of Aviation between July 2011 and February 2014 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and later represented Anambra North Senatorial District in 2015 and 2019. 

The prosecution alleged that the two defendants fraudulently obtained N2,469,030,738.9 from the Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited under the false pretence that the funds were meant for the cost of technical supervision, security integration and logistics support services.

The charge stated that the defendants knew the representation was false and that the offence contravened Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. Both Oduah and Odita pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following their pleas, Oduah’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, applied for bail, noting her status as a well known public figure. Odita’s lawyer, Wale Balogun, also a SAN, similarly urged the court to grant bail to his client, informing the court that the defendants had already complied with bail conditions in a related case before the Federal High Court in Abuja where their travel documents were deposited.

The prosecution, led personally by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, did not oppose the bail applications but asked the court to fix a definite trial date and compel the defendants to submit their travel documents.

Trial judge, Hamza Muazu, granted bail to both defendants on self recognition and ordered that their travel documents be deposited with the court. Oduah’s counsel subsequently applied for the release of her travel documents, but the judge stated that such a request would only be considered upon a proper application for permission to travel and subject to the court’s satisfaction. The case was adjourned to February 12 and 13, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Oduah is also standing trial in a separate N5 billion money laundering case alongside Odita, Chinese construction company CCECC, and others before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Other defendants in that case include Nwosu Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited and Sobora International Limited.

Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed 25 counts against the defendants in December 2020, the arraignment only took place in July 2023 after several delays. The charges allege that the defendants laundered about N5,052,415,984 between February and June 2014 and include allegations of conspiracy, transfer and possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering, and the opening of anonymous bank accounts.

The prosecution further alleged that Oduah and Odita opened anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

It was also alleged that CCECC Nigeria Limited transferred over N2.5 billion into the nominee account between March and June 2014 and conspired with the defendants to launder the funds. All the defendants have denied the allegations.