22nd November, 2021
Former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah attended her trial on Monday in a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avoid an arrest warrant being issued for her.
Before today’s trial, Oduah had failed to appear before the court five times.
During the last sitting on July 12, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo threatened to issue a warrant of arrest if the former minister failed to appear on her next trial date.
The sitting was later postponed till today after the court couldn’t sit on Oct. 19 due to a public holiday for Eid-el Maulud.
However, Mrs. Oduah now a Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District arrived at the court around 8 am.
She is being arraigned on a 25-count charge, alongside four others.
EFCC is accusing her of misappropriating N7.9B public funds while serving as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.
Other defendants are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore, and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and a foreign construction company.