The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has discharged former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah from a ₦2.5 billion fraud case following a plea bargain reached between the prosecution and the defence.
Also discharged by the court was Gloria Odita, a former aide to the ex-minister, after the prosecution formally withdrew charges against both individuals.
Justice Hamza Muazu ordered their discharge after counsel to the Federal Government informed the court that the case against them had been discontinued in line with the terms of a negotiated plea agreement.
Despite the withdrawal of charges against Oduah and Odita, the prosecution retained two companies linked to the former minister — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited — as defendants in an amended charge.
Counsel for the Federal Government, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that following a review of the matter, the prosecution elected to proceed against the companies, which were alleged to have benefited directly from the disputed funds.
Under the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was accused of unlawfully possessing ₦838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited was charged with unlawful possession of ₦1.629 billion.
After guilty pleas were entered on behalf of both companies, the prosecution urged the court to convict them, order their winding up, and approve the forfeiture of funds recovered during the investigation.
Oyedepo specifically requested the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution, submitted through a bank draft before the court, in addition to ₦780 million previously recovered by investigators.
Counsel for the defendants, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Wale Balogun, did not oppose the prosecution’s application.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu convicted both companies based on their guilty pleas and ordered that they be wound up.
The court also directed that the ₦1.2 billion restitution and the ₦780 million recovered during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Muazu subsequently struck out the earlier charge dated October 13, 2025, which had listed Oduah and Odita as co-defendants, thereby formally discharging both of them from the case.
Oduah and Odita were initially 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 January 2014 to obtain about ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited under allegedly false claims.
The charges were said to contravene Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, punishable under Section 1(3) of the same law.
The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty before entering into the plea bargain that led to the latest ruling.
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