Crime Watch: ₦2.5bn Fraud: Court Discharges Stella Oduah After Plea Bargain
Counsel for the Federal Government asked the judge to order the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution, as well as ₦780 million recovered during the investigation.
Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has discharged a former minister of aviation, Stella Oduah, of a ₦2.5 billion fraud charge.
READ ALSO: Alleged ₦5b Fraud: Ex-Minister Stella Oduah Arraigned On Corruption Charges
The court also discharged Gloria Odita, a former aide to Oduah.
Justice Muazu ordered their discharge after the prosecution said it had discontinued the case against them based on a plea bargain agreement reached by the parties.
The prosecution, however, retained two companies linked to the former minister — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited — as defendants in an amended charge.
Counsel for the Federal Government, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the prosecution reviewed the case in light of the agreement and proceeded against the companies, which were accused of benefiting from the alleged fraud.
In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was accused of being unlawfully in possession of ₦838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited allegedly possessed ₦1.629 billion.
Following a guilty plea entered on behalf of the companies, Oyedepo urged the court to convict them and order their winding up.
He also asked the judge to order the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution, contained in a bank draft submitted before the court, as well as ₦780 million recovered during the investigation.
Counsel for the defendants, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Wale Balogun, did not oppose the application.
In his ruling, Muazu convicted the two companies based on their guilty plea and ordered that they be wound up.
He further directed that the ₦1.2 billion restitution and the ₦780 million recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judge also struck out the earlier charge dated October 13, 2025, which 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 the defendants conspired in January 2014 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 and are punishable under Section 1(3).
The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty before the plea bargain was reached.
