A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama has terminated the trial of former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, following a successful plea bargain agreement with the Federal Government.
The court also discharged her former aide, Gloria Odita, who was listed as a co-defendant in the case.
The Federal Government had accused the defendants of conspiring in 2014 to fraudulently obtain a total sum of ₦2,469,030,738.90 from the Federal Ministry of Aviation. According to the prosecution, the funds were allegedly secured through two companies—Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd—under the guise of payments for “technical supervision” and “security integrated and logistics support services.”
Prosecutors further alleged that the defendants knew the claims were false. In one of the charges, the government specifically stated that on January 13, 2014, the sum of ₦839,780,738.90 was obtained under the pretense that it represented the cost of technical supervision.
However, following the plea bargain arrangement with the Federal Government, the court brought the case to an end, effectively freeing both defendants.
Credit: Vanguard
