Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, commenced proceedings to refund a portion of the N2.4 billion allegedly connected to fraud charges filed against her. She served as minister of aviation from July 2011 to February 2014. Authorities arraigned her on December 10 alongside Gloria Odita on a five-count charge. The charges included alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust.
Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecution of the federation (DPPF), disclosed the refund initiative on Thursday. He made this known at the resumed court session before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama, Abuja. Furthermore, Oyedepo stated, “The defendant has started making moves to refund part of the money.” He added, “We want to confirm if the refund has been made.”
The prosecution presented this information during the ongoing trial. The court heard the update as part of the case management process. Consequently, the matter remains sub judice as judicial authorities examine the evidence and claims presented by both parties.
Despite the refund efforts, the five-count charge against Oduah and Odita remains in force. The charges stem from allegations of financial misconduct during Oduah’s tenure at the aviation ministry. Moreover, the case attracted significant public attention due to the substantial sum involved and the high-profile nature of the accused.
