Richard Anyebe
Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has directed that a former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah, be arraigned for the N7.9 billion money laundering charges brought against her by the Federal Government.
Stella Oduah Arraigned
The directive was contained in a letter to the Federal High Court.
This has now brought to an end the adjournments suffered by the arraignment for six consecutive times.
Oduah and other defendants in the alleged fraud trial were to have been arraigned last year but were for six times put off following the request of the AGF to allow him to study the case file and give a legal opinion.
However, at Wednesday’s proceedings, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, brought a letter before the court from Malami, asking that the Senator be formally arraigned on the alleged offences.
Mrs .Odua, who was present in court along with her other eight co-defendants,
was given February 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2023, for arraignment and full-scale accelerated trial.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo fixed the date following confirmation by parties that Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, actually issued the letter and copied them as required by law.
The EFCC, in the charges, alleged that Mrs . Oduah misappropriated the N7.9 billion public funds while serving as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Other defendants are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore, and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, and Sobora International Limited.
They are charged with conspiracy and money laundering, as well as maintaining anonymous bank accounts.
Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC said Senator Stella Oduah absconded from Service, adding that she didn’t get the corps’ certificate.
