Stella Oduah, a former Minister of Aviation, along with seven other individuals, has been brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly committing a fraud amounting to N7.9 billion.
The arraignment took place on Friday and included Oduah’s former aide, Gloria Odita, as well as Nwosu Nnamdi, Chukwuma Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, and Sobora International Ltd. All of the accused individuals and companies pleaded not guilty to the charges.
They entered a plea of not guilty to the 25-count accusation presented against them in court.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Stella Oduah, who also served as the representative for Anambra North in the Senate, and Gloria Odita, identified as the company secretary of Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Ltd (SPGC), were accused of facilitating the transfer of N1,629,250,000 from I-Sec Security Nig. Ltd account No. 2021756955 with First Bank Plc to Global Offshore and Marine Ltd account No. 2022977296, which was also held at First Bank Plc, in February 2014.
The EFCC asserted that the defendants should have been aware that these funds were proceeds from an illegal activity.
The defendants were further charged with the act of opening a naira “anonymous Private Banking Nominee Account No. 2024414450 with First Bank Plc,” which was in violation of section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.
Following their plea, Justice Inyang Ekwo directed the EFCC to return the case file to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation within two weeks, as the former AGF had previously reviewed the case.
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The judge also ruled that the defendants should continue to enjoy the terms of the administrative bail granted to them by the EFCC.
The trial is scheduled to resume on October 17.
