A federal high court in Abuja has scheduled the arraignment of Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, for July 21. The presiding judge, Inyang Ekwo, fixed the date after the court session on Monday.
Oduah, currently serving as a senator representing Anambra North, will be facing trial alongside eight others on a 25-count charge, including allegations of conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with First Bank Plc.
The defendants in the case are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accuses Oduah of misappropriating public funds amounting to N5 billion while she served as a minister.
The arraignment, which was supposed to take place between 2021 and 2023, experienced several delays due to various reasons.
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During the last court session, the judge ordered the EFCC to apprehend certain individuals over a reported “threat” to his life. These individuals had sent text messages to the judge’s phone, advising against the trial of the defendants.
In a subsequent court appearance, Hassan Liman, the prosecution counsel, informed the court that the commission had conducted an investigation and successfully traced the identity of the person behind the threatening messages to the phone number used.
The person identified as Okolo Obinna Johnson was associated with the promotion of two companies. The EFCC, in collaboration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), utilized a search and the linked bank verification number (BVN) to uncover the alleged person’s identity. However, despite efforts made in conjunction with other security agencies, the physical whereabouts of Johnson remained unknown.
Liman assured the court that the EFCC would not relent in its efforts to bring Johnson to justice.
The judge adjourned the case to July 21 for the commencement of the trial and warned that any defendant absent from court on that day would face imprisonment.
