Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah before an Abuja High Court over alleged fraud involving N2.4 billion.
Mrs Oduah was arraigned alongside Gloria Odita on a five-count charge bordering on fraud, obtaining by false pretence and criminal breach of trust.
The prosecution alleged that in January 2014, the defendants conspired to obtain N2,469,030,738.90 from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd under false claims.
According to the charge, the defendants claimed that the sum represented the cost of technical supervision and security integrated and logistics support services, knowing the representation to be false.
The alleged offences contravene sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and are punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
The prosecution further alleged that Oduah and Odita obtained N839,780,738.90 on January 13, 2014 and N1,629,250,000 on February 12, 2014, through Global Offshore Marine Ltd, claiming the payments were for contracts with the Ministry of Aviation.
In two other counts, Oduah was accused of dishonestly misappropriating the same sums while serving as minister, in violation of sections 311 and 315 of the Penal Code.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Their lawyers, Onyechi Ikpeazu for Oduah and Wale Balogun for Odita, applied for bail.
Mr Ikpeazu asked that Oduah be granted bail on self-recognition, noting that she voluntarily appeared in court from the United States and had been on administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, appeared for the prosecution.
He did not oppose bail but urged the court to fix firm dates for the commencement of trial, noting that the defendants had received the proof of evidence since November 27.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted the defendants bail on self-recognition and ordered them to deposit their travel documents with the court.
He said permission would be required for any travel outside the country.
The case was adjourned to February 12 and 13, 2026, for trial.
Stella Oduah, who served as minister between July 2011 and February 2014, is also facing another N5 billion money laundering case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, along with Odita, Chinese firm CCECC and others.
The separate case, filed by the EFCC in December 2020, involves 25 counts related to alleged money laundering between February and June 2014.
The defendant denied all the charges.
