Alleged N2.4b fraud: Court discharges ex-Aviation Minister Oduah, co-defendant Odita
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has discharged former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and her ex-aide, Gloria Odita from the alleged N2.5
- From Eric Ikhilae Abuja
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has discharged former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and her ex-aide, Gloria Odita from the alleged N2.5 billion fraud case brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF).
Justice Hamza Muazu discharged the defendants yesterday after the prosecution told the court that it had discontinued the matter against them and filed an amended charge with only two firms linked to the ex-minister as defendants.
The firms are: Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited.
When the case was earlier called in the morning, prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) told the court that, based on the plea bargain talks between the parties, the prosecution had filed an amended charge.
Read Also: FG plans against global shocks to protect Nigeria's economy
When the issue of who would represent the firms arose, lawyers to the parties sought time to address it.
Following the development, the judge stood down proceedings till later in the day.
In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International was accused of being unlawfully in possession of N838 million, while Global Offshore was alleged to have unlawfully possessed N1.629 billion.
When the case was re-called in the afternoon, the ex-minister stood as the representative of both firms and pleaded guilty, on their behalf, to the amended charge.
Following the guilty plea entered for the two firms, Oyedepo urged the court to convict them and issue an order winding them up.
Oyedepo also urged the court to order that the N1.2 billion paid as restitution by the companies, as contained in a bank draft submitted to the court and the N780 million recovered by investigators in the course of the investigation, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Lawyer to the companies, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), did not object to Oyedepo’s requests, which the judge granted in his ruling.
Justice Muazu convicted the companies based on their guilty plea, issued an order winding them up and further ordered that the N1.2 billion paid as restitution and the N780 million recovered during the investigation are forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judge also issued an order striking out the earlier charge, dated October 13, 2025, which contained the names of the ex-minister and Odita and proceeded to discharge them.
