The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, freed former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and her co-defendant from N2.5 billion fraud charges following a deal they struck with the Nigerian government.
The court made the pronouncement in a ruling following a report from the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, that the defendants had refunded the loot over which they were charged.
He said the federal government had received the amount of money alleged to be stolen in the charges from Ms Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita.
“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,” Mr Oyedepo said, without giving a figure.
He requested the charges against the two defendants be struck out, a call the defence lawyers supported.
The judge, Hamza Muazu, ruling as requested, said, “The charge (relating to the former minister and her co-defendant) dated 13 October 2025 is hereby struck out, and defendants hereby discharged.”
But the judge convicted two corporate entities, through which the alleged fraud was committed, and ordered them to make restitution of N1.2 billion to the federal government.
Mr Muazu also ordered the forfeiture of N780 million naira “recovered by the investigating agency in the course of investigation.”
The forfeiture, the restitution order and the conviction of the companies – Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited – were part of the settlement agreement.
Thursday’s proceedings were the culmination of the settlement talks between the parties which delayed the commencement of trial after the arraignment of defendants in December last year.
Mr Oyedepo first spoke publicly about the settlement talks between the prosecution the defendants during the 12 February proceedings.
Holding back details, he said Ms Oduah submitted the application in line with the provisions of Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which governs plea bargaining in the Nigerian criminal justice system.
On 5 March, the lead prosecution lawyer, Mr Oyedepo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the judge that Ms Oduah and Ms Odita had begun making restitution.
It came about three months after the defendants were arraigned on 10 December 2025 by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office on five charges of N2.5 billion fraud.
The five charges filed against her and her co-defendants accused them of fraudulently obtaining N2.5 billion disguised as cost of technical supervision and security from the Ministry of Aviation.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants committed the offences in January 2014, just about a month before Ms Oduah was forced out of office over a procurement scandal.
Ms Oduah served as Minister of Aviation. Ms Oduah from 2 July 2011 to 12 February 2014 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. She subsequently served two terms representing Anambra North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023.
The AGF office brought the charges against them under sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006. The offences are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
One of the counts alleged that Ms Oduah and her co-defendants obtained “the whopping sum” of N2.5 billion (N2,469,030,738.9) from the federal aviation ministry “through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited by false pretence”.
The prosecution also alleged they knew that representing the money as “cost of technical supervision and security integrated and logistics support services” was false.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
