Ex-minister Stella Oduah, aide cleared of N2.5 billion fraud charge
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has discharged former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah and her former aide, Gloria Odita, of a N2.5 billion fraud charge.
The presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, granted their discharge on Thursday, March 26, 2026, after the prosecution informed the court that the case against them had been discontinued following a plea bargain.
Instead, the prosecution filed an amended two-count charge against two companies linked to Oduah: Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited. The firms were accused of unlawfully possessing N838 million and N1.629 billion, respectively.
During proceedings, the prosecution requested that the companies be convicted and wounded up, a request the defence did not oppose.
Justice Muazu subsequently convicted both companies based on their guilty pleas. He ordered the companies wound up and mandated that N1.2 billion paid as restitution and N780 million recovered during investigations be forfeited to the federal government.
The judge also struck out the original charge, dated October 13, 2025, which named Oduah and Odita. They had been arraigned in December 2025 on a five-count charge of alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust, relating to N2.4 billion allegedly obtained from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited.
The offence, the prosecution said, contravened sections of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, but both defendants had pleaded not guilty before the case was discontinued.
