The Federal Government on Wednesday charged former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, with an alleged fraud of N5bn that was said to have occurred in 2014.
Oduah, who served as aviation minister under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2014, appeared at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on five charges, including conspiracy and acquiring money through deceit.
She was charged by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
In one of the allegations, Oduah was accused of fraudulently acquiring N2.4bn via Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, misrepresenting that the money was intended for technical oversight.
The purported fraud reportedly took place in January 2014.
Additional charges claim that she also acquired N1.6bn and an additional N839m via deceitful means, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act.
The former minister was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Gloria Odita.
Both pleaded not guilty to all allegations. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) represented Oduah, while Wale Balogun (SAN) appeared for Odita.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted Oduah bail on self-recognition but ordered her to surrender her passport to the court.
The judge also stated that she could not leave the country without the court’s approval.
This is the second time the federal government has prosecuted Oduah in this matter. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission withdrew an earlier case filed in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
