Stella Oduah arraigned in Abuja over alleged N2.4bn aviation fraud, granted bail on self-recognition

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former aviation minister Stella Oduah before an Abuja high court on a five-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust involving N2.4 billion.

Oduah was arraigned on Wednesday alongside Gloria Odita. Prosecutors allege that in January 2014, both defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain N2,469,030,738.90 from the federal ministry of aviation through two companies — Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd — under claims the funds were for technical supervision, security integration and logistics support services.

The EFCC said the representations were false, in violation of sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, and punishable under section 1(3).

Read Also: Obasanjo urges leaders to place Nigeria’s interest above short-term gains

One of the counts alleges that on January 13, 2014, the defendants obtained N839,780,738.90 under the guise of “cost of technical supervision.” Another count alleges that on February 12, 2014, they obtained N1.63 billion through Global Offshore Marine Ltd for “security integrated and logistics support services.”

Counts four and five accuse Oduah, then a serving minister, of dishonestly misappropriating the same funds allocated for a contract awarded to 1-Sec Security Nigeria Ltd by authorising their transfer — an act the prosecution says amounted to a breach of official trust under section 311 of the Penal Code.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty.

Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, counsel to Oduah, requested bail on self-recognition, noting that his client voluntarily returned from the United States to honour the summons and has been on EFCC administrative bail. Counsel to Odita also applied for the release of his client’s travel documents.

The attorney-general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who appeared personally for the government, did not oppose bail but pressed the court to set a firm trial date, saying the defendants had been served with proof of evidence since November 27.

Presiding judge Hamza Muazu granted both defendants bail on self-recognition and ordered them to deposit their travel documents, noting that any request to travel abroad must be formally justified and approved by the court.

Trial is scheduled to begin on February 12.