Malami frustrates arraignment of Stella Oduah, former Aviation Minister at Abuja Fed. High Court

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, may have frustrated the arraignment of Senator Stella Oduah, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), before at the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided by Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Senator Oduah, representing Anambra North Senatorial district in the National Assembly is being arraigned on a 25-count charge, with 8 other defendants. They were all present in court on Monday.

One of the defence Counsels, Ogwu Onoja SAN, in an application requested the court to put on hold plea taking by the defendants, citing a petition dated January 29, to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami, relating to the case.

The defence counsel argued in the petition that Oduah and the other 8 defendants are not standing trial for justice but being persecuted.

The counsel said that the AGF, on receiving the petition, requested for the case file, protesting that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declined to send the file to the justice minister. Thus, Oduah and the co-defendants did not take the plea.

Onoja protested why the EFCC should refuse to send a file requested by the AGF for review of a criminal charge.

The court, thereafter, held that it will not hear the case summarily; directed parties to file written addresses on the issue, then adjourned to February 10, 2022.