The Federal Government on Wednesday brought fresh criminal charges against former aviation minister, Senator Stella Oduah, accusing her of orchestrating a multibillion-naira fraud during her tenure in 2014.
Oduah, who served under President Goodluck Jonathan between 2011 and 2014, appeared before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama to answer a five-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The prosecution alleges that she conspired with others to obtain funds through false pretences, in violation of Nigeria’s anti-fraud laws.
One of the charges accuses Oduah of fraudulently securing ₦2.4bn via Broad Waters Resources, purportedly for “technical supervision” in the aviation ministry — a claim prosecutors say was entirely fabricated. The alleged offences date back to January 2014.
Prosecutors further allege that she obtained an additional ₦1.6bn and ₦839m under similarly false pretences, contravening provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act. Oduah was arraigned alongside Gloria Odita, who is accused of aiding the purported scheme. Both defendants entered not-guilty pleas.
Oduah was represented by senior advocate Onyechi Ikpeazu, while Odita was represented by Wale Balogun, also a senior advocate.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted Oduah bail on self-recognisance but ordered her to surrender her passport to the court and barred her from leaving the country without judicial approval.
This latest prosecution marks the second time the government has pursued charges against the former minister. A previous case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja was withdrawn without proceeding to trial.
