N5 Billion Fraud: Court Fixes Date For Stella Oduah’s Arraignment

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 5 for the arraignment of former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, over N5 billion fraud allegation.

Although the court had fixed February 13 to commence trial, further inquiry revealed that the case has been adjourned till June 5.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had dragged Senator Oduah and eight others to court on a 25-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with First Bank Plc.

Other defendants are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.

According to the anti-graft agency, Oduah misappropriated public funds worth N5 billion while serving as a minister.

Oguh Onoja, a defence counsel, had on November 22, 2021, raised an objection against the arraignment of the defendants, stating that he had written a petition to the AGF on the grounds that the defendants were “being persecuted”.

The case file was later transmitted to the office of the AGF for a review of the matter.

In October 2022, the AGF gave approval to the EFCC to commence prosecution.