Stella Oduah Arraigned Over Alleged N5bn Fraud

The federal government has arraigned a former minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on N5 billion corruption charges.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice filed a 5-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and conspiracy, upon which she was arraigned.

In one of the counts, Stella Oduah allegedly obtained a sum of N2.4 billion through false pretences from the Federal Ministry of Aviation via Broad Waters Resources.

She was also accused of fraudulently claiming that the money was the cost of technical supervision.

The fraud was committed in January 2014.

In another count, Stella Oduah allegedly collected N1.6 billion and an additional N839 million through the same means, contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud.

The former minister, who was docked with one Gloria Odita, however, denied the charges along with her co-defendant.

Justice Hamza Muazu admitted Mrs Oduah to bail on self-recognition, but ordered that she must deposit her travel passport with the court and must not travel out of the country without the court’s permission.

A legal luminary, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), represented the former minister during the arraignment, while Wale Balogun (SAN) stood for Gloria Odita.

This is the second time the federal government will put Mrs Oduah on trial. The first charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja were withdrawn.