Court discharges former aviation minister Oduah over N2.5 billion fraud charge

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has discharged former aviation minister Stella Oduah from a N2.5 billion fraud charge after the prosecution discontinued the case against her following a plea bargain agreement.

Her former aide, Gloria Odita, was also discharged. Presiding judge Hamza Muazu struck out the earlier charge dated 13th October 2025, which had listed both women as defendants, effectively ending the criminal proceedings against them personally.

The prosecution, however, retained two companies linked to Oduah — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited — as defendants in an amended charge. Both companies entered guilty pleas and were convicted by the court. Muazu ordered that they be wound up and directed the forfeiture of N1.2 billion paid as restitution and N780 million recovered during the investigation to the federal government.

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Oduah and Odita were arraigned in December 2025 by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a five-count charge of fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust. The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in January 2014 to obtain N2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through two companies under fraudulent claims, in contravention of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. Both had initially pleaded not guilty before the plea bargain was reached.

Counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the prosecution reviewed the case in light of the agreement and proceeded against the companies, which were accused of directly benefiting from the alleged fraud. In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International was accused of unlawful possession of N838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine allegedly held N1.629 billion. Counsel for the defendants did not oppose the application for conviction and winding-up.