The Federal Government on Wednesday charged former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, in court over an alleged N5bn fraud said to have taken place in 2014.
Oduah, who served as aviation minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2014, appeared before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on five counts, including conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.
She was brought before the court by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
In one of the charges, Oduah was alleged to have fraudulently secured N2.4bn through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, falsely claiming the money was for technical supervision.
The alleged offence is reported to have taken place in January 2014.
Additional charges claim she also obtained N1.6bn and another N839m through false pretences, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act.
Oduah was arraigned alongside another defendant, Gloria Odita.
Both defendants entered not-guilty pleas to all the charges.
Oduah was represented by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), while Wale Balogun (SAN) appeared for Odita.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted Oduah bail based on self-recognisance but ordered her to submit her passport to the court.
He further ruled that she cannot travel outside the country without the court’s authorization.
This is the second attempt by the Federal Government to prosecute Oduah on this issue, as a previous case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja was discontinued.
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