A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has discharged former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah from a fraud case involving N2.5 billion after companies linked to her pleaded guilty and forfeited funds to the Federal Government.
Justice Hamza Muazu delivered the ruling on Thursday at the court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The court struck out the charges against former Minister Oduah and her former aide Gloria Odita after the prosecution amended the case to proceed against two companies.
The companies, Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited, were then convicted based on a guilty plea.
The court ordered their winding up and approved the forfeiture of N1.98 billion to the Federal Government.
During the proceedings, the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo said it filed an amended two-count charge after plea discussions with the defendants.
The charges stated that Sobora International Limited had unlawful possession of N838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited had unlawful possession of N1.629 billion.
Oduah appeared in court as a representative of the companies and entered a guilty plea on their behalf.
Counsel to the companies did not oppose the request for conviction and forfeiture.
Justice Muazu then ordered that N1.2 billion paid as restitution and N780 million recovered during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government.
He also ordered the dissolution of the companies and discharged Oduah and Odita from the case.
The case began in December 2025 when Oduah and Odita were arraigned on a five-count charge involving fraud, breach of trust and obtaining money by false pretence.
The prosecution alleged that about N2.4 billion was obtained through companies linked to Oduah in connection with contracts from the aviation ministry.
Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty before entering into a plea agreement that led to the amended charges and conviction of the companies.
The case followed earlier investigations into financial activities linked to Stella Oduah, who served as minister between 2011 and 2014.
