The Federal Government has filed fresh criminal charges against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, accusing her of involvement in a N5 billion fraud scheme allegedly carried out during her time in office.
Oduah appeared before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, where she was arraigned on a five-count charge brought by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
The charges, centred on advance fee fraud and conspiracy, are linked to large financial transactions investigators say were routed through private companies while she served as aviation minister.
According to one of the allegations, Oduah “fraudulently obtained” ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation in 2014 through a firm, Broad Waters Resources, claiming the payment was for “technical supervision.”
Prosecutors also alleged that she received additional sums—N1.6 billion and N839 million—through similar arrangements said to contravene Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
Her co-accused, Gloria Odita, was also in court to take her plea.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty after the charges were read. Despite the weight of the allegations, Justice Muazu granted Oduah bail on self-recognition, directing her to deposit her passport with the court and obtain clearance before any foreign travel.
Oduah was represented by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), while Wale Balogun (SAN) appeared for Odita.