Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has been arraigned before an Abuja High Court on Wednesday over allegations that she and co-defendant Gloria Odita fraudulently obtained more than ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
The duo face a five-count charge covering conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and breach of trust. Prosecutors allege that in January 2014 they worked together to extract ₦2,469,030,738.90 through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd based on claims later deemed fraudulent.
Court documents say Oduah and Odita falsely represented the funds as payments for “Cost of Technical Supervision” and “Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services”. The alleged offences fall under Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
One charge concerns the alleged fraudulent receipt of ₦839,780,738.90 on 13 January 2014, while another relates to ₦1,629,250,000 received on 12 February 2014 through Global Offshore Marine Ltd. The prosecution maintains both transactions were based on false claims.
The Federal Government further accuses Oduah, then serving as minister, of dishonestly diverting the same sums allocated for a contract awarded to 1-Sec Security Nigeria Ltd. This is said to constitute criminal misappropriation under Sections 311 and 315 of the Penal Code.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Oduah’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, sought bail on self-recognition, emphasising her past ministerial position, her voluntary return from the United States to attend proceedings, and her compliance with previous EFCC bail conditions. Counsel for Odita, Wale Balogun, SAN, also applied for the release of his client’s travel documents.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the prosecution, stated that the government was not opposing bail but insisted that the trial commence without delay, noting that the defence had been served with evidence since 27 November.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted both defendants bail on self-recognition and instructed them to surrender their travel documents, with any future travel requiring court approval.
The case has been adjourned to 12 February for the start of trial.
