By Ayomide Otitoju
Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has discharged former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, from a ₦2.5 billion fraud charge following a plea bargain agreement.
The court granted the discharge after the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that it had discontinued the case against Oduah and a co-defendant based on the agreement reached with the defence.
However, two companies linked to the former minister — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited — remained defendants in an amended charge. The prosecution said the companies benefited from the alleged fraud and proceeded with the case against them.
In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was accused of unlawfully possessing ₦838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited allegedly held ₦1.629 billion. Following a guilty plea entered on behalf of the firms, the prosecution urged the court to convict them, order their winding up, and approve the forfeiture of funds recovered during the investigation.
Justice Muazu subsequently convicted the companies based on their guilty plea and ordered their winding up. He also directed the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution and an additional ₦780 million recovered during the probe to the Federal Government.
The court further struck out the earlier charge filed on October 13, 2025, which included Oduah and her co-defendant, effectively discharging both individuals from the case.
Oduah and the co-defendant had been 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 2014 to obtain about ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through private companies under false claims.
The offences were said to contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty before entering into the plea bargain that led to the latest ruling.
