Alleged 5bn fraud: Malami approves prosecution of Stella Oduah, others

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) approval to prosecute former Aviation Minister, Sen. Stella Oduah, and others on alleged N5 billion fraud.

The prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman, SAN, informed Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja at the resumed hearing on the matter on Wednesday.

Justice Ekwo had, on May 10, fixed today for arraignment of the defendants following a letter from the office of the AGF in response to a petition written by counsel to the 8th defendant in the suit, Ogbu James, SAN.

Onoja, on November 22, 2021, raised objection to the defendants taking their plea, informing that a petition had already been written to the AGF, complaining that the defendants were just been persecuted as against prosecution.

The development prompted the court to adjourn to await a response from the AGF.

When the matter was called for the defendants to take their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Liman, told the court that the AGF had finally responded to the petition and given a nod in a letter for the matter to proceed.

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The lawyer said he has no fewer than 32 witnesses lined up to testify in the suit.

Lawyers to all the defendants, including Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, who appeared for the senator, acknowledged receipt of the letter from the AGF.

The judge, who ordered an accelerated hearing in the trial, directed all parties to put their house in order.

Justice Ekwo said the trial would be on a day-to-day basis and adjourned until February 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2023, for hearing.

Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was expected to be arraigned by the EFCC on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation.

Other defendants in the charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

Others include Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited.

They are being charged with conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

They will be arraigned on 25-count charge.

The Star