Sen. Stella Oduah, a former minister of aviation, and other defendants entered a not guilty plea on Friday to a N5 billion fraud accusation brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC presented Oduah and eight other people in court for arraignment before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported on Monday that Justice Ekwo had set the date after a lawyer for the EFCC, Hassan Liman SAN, asked the court to let the defendants to enter a plea after the charge against them was brought against them on December 17, 2020.
Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere were also arraigned with the former legislator, who had previously served as the senator for Anambra North in the 9th National Assembly.
Global Offshore and Marine Ltd., Tip Top Global Resources Ltd., Crystal Television Ltd., Sobora International Ltd., and other companies are among the others.
While serving as a Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan Administration, Oduah was charged with fraud and money misappropriation of N5 billion.
They are accused of conspiring, engaging in money laundering, and keeping secret bank accounts with a commercial bank in the 25-count accusation marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020.
Justice Ekwo accepted their request and subsequently directed the EFCC to turn over the case file to the AGF within two weeks. He also ordered that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) take control of the situation.
The court directed that the AGF be given access to the terms of conditions while also upholding the current administrative bail restrictions that the EFCC had granted them.
After then, on October 17, 2023, the court continued the matter for trial.
