N2.5bn fraud trial: Stella Oduah forfeits N1.98bn to FG, discharged

By Edith Nwapi

Justice Hamza Muazu of Abuja High Court on Thursday discharged a former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah and her ex-aide, Gloria Odita of N2.5 billion fraud charge.

Oduah and Odita were discharged after the prosecution told the court that it has discontinued the case against them based on their plea bargain.

The prosecution however, filed an amended charge against two firms linked to the ex-minister as defendants.

The firms are Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN informed the court that the plea bargain has been reached by parties.

When the case was earlier called in the morning, Oyedepo told the court that based on the plea bargain talks between parties, the prosecution filed an amended charge.

When the issue of who would represent the firms arose, parties sought time to address it, following which 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 N838m, while Global Offshore was alleged to have unlawfully possessed N1.629b.

Following the guilty plea entered for the two companies, prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN urged the court to convict them and issue an order winding them up.

Oyedepo also urged the court to order that the N1.2billion, paid as restitution by the companies, as contained in a bank draft submitted to the court.

In addition, the N780million recovered by investigators in the course of investigation, be forefeited to the Federal Government.

Counsel to the defendants, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, Wale Balogun 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.

He issued an order winging them up and further ordered that the N1.2b paid as restitution and the N780m recovered during investigation are forfeited to the FG.

The judge equally issued an order striking out the earlier charge, dated Oct 13, 2025, which contained the names of the ex-minister and Odita and proceeded to discharge them.

Oduah was arraigned in December 2025 alongside Odita, by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on a-five-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in January 2014 to obtain N2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd under alleged fraudulent claims.

The offence, the prosecution said, contravened the provisions of Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and is punishable under Section 1(3).

The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

(NAN)