COURT DISCHARGES STELLA ODUAH, CONVICTS COMPANIES IN N2.5BN FRAUD CASE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has discharged a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, of a ₦2.5 billion fraud charge.

The court also discharged her former aide, Gloria Odita, after the prosecution announced it had discontinued the case against them following a plea bargain agreement.

However, two companies linked to Oduah, Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited, remained as defendants in an amended charge.

Counsel for the Federal Government, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the case was reviewed in line with the plea agreement, with prosecution proceeding against the companies accused of benefiting from the alleged fraud.

In the amended charges, Sobora International Limited was accused of unlawful possession of ₦838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited allegedly possessed ₦1.629 billion.

Following a guilty plea entered on behalf of the companies, the prosecution urged the court to convict them, order their winding up, and approve the forfeiture of funds recovered during the investigation.

Defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Wale Balogun, did not oppose the application.

In his ruling, Justice Muazu convicted the two companies and ordered that they be wound up. He also directed the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution, along with ₦780 million recovered during the investigation, to the Federal Government.

The judge subsequently struck out the earlier charge filed on October 13, 2025, which had included Oduah and Odita as defendants, effectively clearing both of any wrongdoing in 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 bordering on alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust.

The prosecution had alleged that the defendants conspired in January 2014 to obtain about ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through companies under alleged false claims.

With the plea bargain concluded and companies convicted, the case marks a significant legal resolution in the long-running fraud proceedings.