A former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, was on Wednesday arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, by the Federal Government on allegations involving ₦5bn fraud.
Oduah, prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, faced five counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
According to the charge, Oduah allegedly obtained ₦2.4bn from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources, claiming the funds were meant for technical supervision in January 2014. She was also accused of fraudulently receiving ₦1.6bn and another ₦839m using similar methods, offences said to contravene the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act.
Oduah was arraigned alongside Gloria Odita. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Defence lawyers Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Wale Balogun (SAN) represented Oduah and Odita respectively.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted Oduah bail on self-recognition, ordering her to deposit her international passport and barring her from travelling without the court’s permission.
This marks the second attempt by the Federal Government to prosecute the former minister after an earlier suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court was withdrawn.
