Why Stella Oduah is on trial again over ₦5bn fraud
Once again, Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah is brought back to court over fraud. She allegedly stole a whopping ₦5 billion in 2014, during President Goodluck Jonathan’s time.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had dragged Oduah to the Court in 2023 over the same case she is now being tried. She seemed to have sorted the ‘powers that be’ as EFCC dropped the matter and absolved Oduah of wrongdoings.
That time it was said the money was ₦7 billion and that the minister, together with her co-defendants had returned some of the stolen money.
For some reasons the dust is yet to settle for sure. Yesterday, office of the Attorney General of the Federation dragged Stella Oduah to Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts charges. She was arraigned alongside another woman, Gloria Odita.
One of the counts read that Oduah obtained ₦2.4bn through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation. She had claimed the money was used for technical supervision.
In other counts read that she stole N1.6bn and another N839m through false pretences.
Like all powerful politicians in Nigeria Stella Oduah and Gloria Odita hired the best lawyers in the business. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) represented Oduah while Wale Balogun (SAN) appeared for Odita. So both proudly pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Justice Hamza Muazu granted Oduah bail on the basis that she is a known figure. She lay her passport before the court, however, as was ordered.
