The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, July 21, arraigned former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, and eight others over alleged N5 billion fraud.
Others arraigned alongside the ex-lawmaker were, Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore, Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, and Sobora International Ltd.
Oduah and the other eight who were arraigned by the EFCC, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.
After taking their plea, Justice Ekwo ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to preside over the matter, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should promptly transfer the case file to the AGF in two weeks.
He also ordered that the terms of conditions, be made available to the AGF.
Ekwo adjourned the case till October 17, 2023, for trial, he upheld the existing administrative bail conditions granted them by the EFCC.
The EFCC had charged former aviation minister Senator Stella Oduah with eight counts of document fabrication and conspiracy to commit a felony, among other crimes. On June 26, 2023, the Federal Government through EFCC filed the charges against the ex lawmaker.
The suit was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, by Ochugwu Ogbeh W.A. Esq. and Ibrahim Mohammed Esq. of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC in Benin City, with the Federal Government of Nigeria as the Complainant and Oduah as the only Defendant.
Earlier In May 2022, the NYSC disclosed that Stella Oduah did not complete the compulsory one-year NYSC programme.
The disclosure was in response to an inquiry made by a group known as the Concerned Anambra North PDP Stakeholders.
The group had written to the NYSC, alleging that some officials of the agency connived with Oduah to bury the truth.
The NYSC in response to the demand, revealed through a letter by the Director-General, that Oduah commenced her NYSC programme in 1982 but absconded.
