SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that the planned arraignment of a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah on the N7.9 billion money laundering charges on October 11 may be stalled for the seventh time before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
A directive for the arraignment of a former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, has been finally issued in the N7.9 billion money laundering charges brought against her by the Federal Government.
SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that the planned arraignment of a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah on the N7.9 billion money laundering charges on October 11 may be stalled for the seventh time before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported in 2021 that her trial by the EFCC over a N7.9 billion fraud might be scuttled going by her secret plot with Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
“February 22 (2021) has passed but she was not arraigned. April 19 has also passed. She is working very hard using Senate President and AGF to either scuttle arraignment or frustrate the trial. Alternatively, they are planning to water down the trial through the prosecution via the EFCC chairman.
“Another way is through the prosecutor, Dr Hassan Liman, a close friend of Lawan and the AGF,” the source had revealed to SaharaReporters.
Oduah is being prosecuted on 25 counts of money laundering alongside Gloria Odita, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited and the China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami in a letter to the Federal High Court on Wednesday finally brought to an end the adjournments suffered by the arraignment for six consecutive times.
At the proceedings, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, brought a letter before the court from Malami, asking that the Senator be formally docked on the alleged offences.
Mrs Odua, who was present in court along with her other eight co-defendants, was given February 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2023, for arraignment and full scale accelerated trial.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo fixed the date following confirmation by parties that Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, actually issued the letter and copied them as required by law.
The EFCC, in the charges, alleged that Mrs Oduah misappropriated the N7.9 billion public funds while serving as a Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.
Other defendants are; Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore, and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited and Sobora International Limited.
They are charged with conspiracy and money laundering, as well as maintaining anonymous bank accounts.