APC Sen. Stella Oduah takes plea in N7.9bn corruption trial in court

Former Minister of Aviation, Mrs Sen. Stella Adaeze Oduah has arrived the Federal High Court in Abuja to take her plea in the alleged N7.9 billion fraud charges brought against her by the Federal Government.

She eventually showed up after series of absence by reason of public holiday or refusal.

Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo had on July 12 threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for Mrs Stella Oduah should she fail to make herself available for arraignment on the then adjourned date of October 19, which later fell on holiday.

The APC senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly arrived in court as early as 8am to face trial on a 25-count charge, alongside four others.

Senator Oduah was accompanied to court by a retinue of security details, friends and political associates.

The EFCC is alleging that Mrs Oduah misappropriated the N7.9B public funds while serving as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.

Other defendants are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore, and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and a foreign construction company.

They are charged with conspiracy and money laundering, as well as maintaining anonymous bank accounts.

The prosecution counsel, Dr Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, with 13 other lawyers also arrived in court.

Liman said 32 witnesses are already lined up against Oduah.

Many Nigerians have speculated the senator’s sin, including the EFCC case, should have been forgiven since she defected to the APC months ago.