COURT DISMISSES N2.5BN FRAUD CASE AGAINST STELLA ODUAH FOLLOWING PLEA AGREEMENT
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By: Muftau Fatimo
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has acquitted Stella Oduah, the former Minister of Aviation, of a N2.5 billion fraud charge.
The court also cleared Gloria Odita, a former aide to Oduah.
Presiding Judge Hamza Muazu ordered their discharge on Thursday after the prosecution announced it was discontinuing the case following a plea bargain agreement reached between the parties.
However, the prosecution retained two companies associated with the former minister — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited — as defendants under an amended charge.
Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel for the federal government, explained that the case was reviewed in light of the plea bargain agreement, leading the prosecution to proceed against the companies, which were accused of benefiting from the alleged fraud.
Under the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was alleged to have unlawfully possessed N838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited was said to have held N1.629 billion. Following the companies’ guilty plea, Oyedepo requested that the court convict them and order their winding up. He further asked the judge to order the forfeiture of N1.2 billion paid as restitution, evidenced by a bank draft submitted to the court, as well as N780 million recovered during the investigation.
The defendants’ counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Wale Balogun, did not oppose the application.
In his ruling, Judge Hamza Muazu convicted both companies based on their guilty plea and ordered that they be wound up. He also directed that the N1.2 billion restitution and N780 million recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the federal government. Additionally, the judge struck out the original charge dated October 13, 2025, which named Oduah and Odita as defendants, effectively discharging them from the case.
Oduah and Odita were initially arraigned in December 2025 by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a five-count charge involving alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust.
The prosecution had alleged that the defendants conspired in January 2014 to obtain N2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited under purportedly fraudulent claims.
The alleged offences violated Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and are punishable under Section 1(3). The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty before entering into the plea bargain.
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