Court Discharges Stella Oduah Over ₦2.5bn Fraud Charge

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has discharged former minister of aviation, Stella Oduah, from a ₦2.5 billion fraud case.

The court also discharged Gloria Odita, a former aide to Oduah, after the prosecution announced that it had discontinued the case against both women following a plea bargain agreement reached by the parties.

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

Counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the prosecution reviewed the matter in line with the plea bargain and decided to proceed only against the companies, which were alleged to have benefited from the fraud.

In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was accused of unlawfully possessing ₦838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited was accused of possessing ₦1.629 billion.

Following a guilty plea entered on behalf of the companies, the prosecution asked the court to convict them, order their winding up, and direct the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution, along with ₦780 million recovered during investigation.

Lawyers to the defendants, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Wale Balogun, did not oppose the request.

In his ruling, Justice Muazu convicted the two companies based on their guilty plea and ordered that they be wound up.

He also directed that the ₦1.2 billion restitution and the ₦780 million recovered during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge further struck out the earlier charge filed on October 13, 2025, which had included Oduah and Odita as defendants, effectively discharging both of them from the case.

Oduah and Odita were 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 in January 2014, the defendants conspired to obtain ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited under alleged fraudulent claims.

The offences were said to contravene Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, punishable under Section 1(3).

Both defendants had initially pleaded not guilty before the plea bargain was reached.