Court discharges ex-aviation minister Stella Oduah in N2.5bn fraud case

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has discharged Senator Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, from N2.5 billion fraud charges.

The court delivered the ruling on Thursday after the Federal Government confirmed that the funds involved in the case had been refunded.

Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), told the court that the government had received the value of the funds linked to the charges.

Oyedepo said the restitution was made by Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita.

“I have the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation to inform your Lordship that the state confirms receipt of the value of the subject matter of this charge,” Oyedepo said.

He requested that the charges against the defendants be struck out and the defence lawyers supported the request.

“The charge dated 13 October 2025 is hereby struck out, and defendants hereby discharged,” the presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu announced.

The court, however, convicted two companies linked to the alleged fraud – Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited. The court ordered the companies to make restitution of N1.2 billion to the Federal Government.

Justice Muazu also ordered the forfeiture of N780 million recovered during the investigation. The restitution, forfeiture and conviction of the companies formed part of the settlement agreement between the parties.

The case followed a settlement process that delayed the commencement of trial after the defendants were arraigned in December 2025.

Oyedepo had earlier disclosed that Oduah applied for plea bargaining under section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

The former minister and her co-defendant had been arraigned on December 10, 2025 on five counts bordering on N2.5 billion fraud.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained the funds from the ministry of aviation. It said the funds were disguised as payments for technical supervision, security and logistics services. The alleged offences were said to have occurred in January 2014.

Oduah served as minister of aviation between July 2011 and February 2014 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. She later represented Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate from 2015 to 2023.