The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, over allegations of fraud, obtaining money by false pretences, and criminal breach of trust, amounting to more than ₦2.4 billion.
Oduah, who served as aviation minister between 2011 and 2014, was arraigned alongside her former personal assistant, Gloria Odita.
The charges were filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation after years of investigation into transactions linked to the ministry during Oduah’s tenure.
The defendants were brought before Justice Hamza Muazu on a five-count charge.
According to the charge sheet, the Federal Government accused Oduah and Odita of conspiring in January 2014 to obtain ₦2,469,030,738.90 from the Ministry of Aviation through two companies, Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd, under false pretenses.
In count one, the prosecution alleged that the defendants “agreed amongst yourselves to obtain the whopping sum of Two Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo (₦2,469,030,738.90) … by falsely pretending that the said sum represented ‘Cost of Technical Supervision’ and ‘Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services,’ which representation you knew to be false.”
The government said the alleged offences breach sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and attract penalties under section 1(3).
In count two, the FG said Oduah and Odita fraudulently obtained ₦839,780,738.90 on 13 January 2014 under the claim that it was payment for “Cost of Technical Supervision.”
Count three stated that the defendants obtained ₦1,629,250,000 on 12 February 2014 through Global Offshore Marine Ltd, claiming it was for “Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services,” which the prosecution alleged was false.
The government further accused Oduah, in counts four and five, of diverting the same funds, which were meant for a contract awarded to 1-Sec Security Nigeria Ltd.
The charge states that she “dishonestly misappropriated the sum … by authorizing the transfer of the said sum, which act is a breach of your official trust,” contrary to section 311 and punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code.
Oduah and Odita pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the charges.
During the bail hearing, Oduah’s lawyer, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition.
He noted that Oduah, a former minister, had flown into Nigeria from the United States to attend her arraignment and had been on administrative bail with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for years without violating any of the conditions.
Her co-defendant’s lawyer, Wale Balogun (SAN), also moved for bail.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who personally led the prosecution, said the government was not opposed to bail. However, he emphasized the need for the court to set definite trial dates, noting that the defendants had been served with the charges since November 27, 2025.
Justice Muazu granted Oduah bail on self-recognition and ordered both defendants to deposit their international passports with the court.
The case was adjourned to 12 and 13 February 2026 for trial.
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