The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday discharged former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, from N2.5 billion fraud charges following a settlement with the Nigerian government.
The ruling followed a report by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, that the defendants had refunded the money for which they were charged. “I have the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation to inform your Lordship that the state confirms receipt of the value of the subject matter of this charge,” Oyedepo told the court, without specifying the amount. He requested that the charges against Oduah and Odita be struck out, a request supported by their defence lawyers.
Presiding Judge Hamza Muazu obliged, ruling: “The charge dated 13 October 2025 is hereby struck out, and defendants hereby discharged.”
However, two corporate entities linked to the alleged fraud—Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited were convicted and ordered to make restitution of N1.2 billion to the federal government. Additionally, N780 million recovered during investigation was forfeited. These measures were part of the settlement agreement.
The charges had delayed trial proceedings since the defendants’ arraignment in December 2025. Oyedepo first publicly referenced the settlement during February proceedings, noting that Oduah had applied for plea bargaining under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. By March, restitution had begun.
The original prosecution alleged that Oduah and her co-defendant fraudulently obtained N2.5 billion from the Ministry of Aviation in January 2014, disguised as payment for technical supervision and security services. Oduah had served as Minister of Aviation from July 2011 to February 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan and later represented Anambra North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023.
In court, amended charges excluded Oduah and Odita as individual defendants, focusing solely on the companies. Oduah, representing the firms, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. The prosecution alleged that Sobora International Limited illegally received N838 million, while Global Offshore Marine Limited obtained N1.629 billion from ISEC Security Maintenance Limited.
The settlement reflects a legal resolution in which the companies bore criminal liability, while Oduah and Odita were discharged after restitution to the government.
