N7.9bn corruption charges: Stella Oduah’s trial at CCECC’s beginning on October 17

On Tuesday, October 17, the federal government will begin a full-fledged trial against the former minister of aviation, senator Stella Adaeze Oduah, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Fraud, money laundering, and bribery involving N7.9 billion was allegedly committed by Mrs. Oduah and the powerful China Construction company.

In particular, CCECC would be put on trial for allegedly paying N7.9 billion in bribes to Federal Government officials through claimed transfers from its various bank accounts to the accounts of bribery victims to support government patronage.

On the other side, Senator Oduah will face legal action for allegedly taking funds from CCECC when she was the Minister of Aviation.

According to a cause list made public by the Federal High Court on Monday, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo will preside over the formal trial in Abuja on October 17.

On the advice of the Federal High Court, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice will oversee and conduct the trial this time around, in contrast to the prior procedures.

According to reports, the EFCC was instructed to withdraw from the trial after using illegal tactics to delay it for more than two years.

On Friday, July 21, 2023, Mrs. Oduah and eight other defendants entered a not guilty plea to a N7.9 billion fraud accusation brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against them.

They were charged with 25 counts of alleged money laundering by the EFCC and appeared before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Along with Gloria Odita, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Irene Chukwuma, and five businesses, including Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tiptop Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the former aviation minister was docked.

READ ALSO: Stella Oduah and others deny the charge of alleged N5 billion fraud

When Senator Oduah was a Minister under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, she was charged with fraud and money mismanagement involving reportedly N7.9 billion.

They were charged with conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining secret bank accounts with a commercial bank in the 25-count charge with the marking: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020.

According to count one of the charges, “you, Stella Adaeze Oduah while serving as the Minister of Aviation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gloria Odita while serving as the Company Secretary to Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC) and an assistant to the former Minister of Aviation, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, while serving as an employee of Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC) and an assistant to the former Minister of Aviation, Chukwuma Irene Chi

“That you, Stella Adaeze Oduah while serving as the Minister of Aviation for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, a Limited Liability Company registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, took control of the sum of N1,629,250,000.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only on or about February 12, 2014 at Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court

To the allegations brought against them, the defendants had entered a not-guilty plea.

The defendants were granted bail by Justice Ekwo in accordance with the terms of the administrative bail initially issued to them by the EFCC, and the trial was continued until October 17 to begin.

Remember that on December 17, 2020, the commission had charged Oduah and others, but the process of bringing them to trial saw many twists and turns.

Many times, the defendants were unable to appear in court, causing adjournments, and when they were, either the defence team was arguing for an adjournment due to settlement talks.