Former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah Arrives Abuja Court For Arraignment On N7.9bn Fraud Charges

Mrs Stella Adaeze Oduah, a former Minister of Aviation, has appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja to enter her plea in the alleged N7.9 billion fraud allegations brought against her by the Federal Government in a bid to avoid arrest.

Her scheduled arraignment had been postponed five times previously due to her frequent absenteeism from court and a national holiday.

Mrs Stella Oduah had been threatened with a warrant of arrest by Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo on July 12 if she failed to appear for arraignment on the then-adjourned date of October 19, which later fell on a vacation.

The warrant for her arrest was issued after she failed to appear in court on July 12 without providing any explanation.

The penultimate attempt to charge her with money laundering on Tuesday, October 19, was thwarted by the Federal Government’s declaration of the Eid el Maulud holiday to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

Mrs Oduah, who is now a Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was seen arriving in court as early as 8 a.m. to face a 25-count charge alongside four others, according to DAILY POST.

Senator Oduah was escorted to court by a posse of bodyguards, friends, and political allies.

The Senator is having a last-minute pre-arraignment meeting with her lead counsel about the future course of action at the time of this report.

Mrs Oduah is accused of misappropriating N7.9 billion in public monies while working as a minister during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and a foreign construction company are among the defendants.

They’ve been accused with conspiracy, money laundering, and keeping secret bank accounts.

Dr Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, entered in court with a group of roughly 12 other lawyers to present the government’s case against the defendants.

Senator Oduah and eight others have been charged with fraud, according to Liman, who previously informed DAILY POST that 32 witnesses have been lined up to testify against them.