The Nigerian government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a N5 billion corruption charge.
She was put on trial by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, on five counts relating to advance fee fraud and conspiracy.
The federal government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is prosecuting her and eight co-defendants on a 25-count charge involving alleged conspiracy and money laundering of public funds.
The specific amount in the main charge is approximately N5 billion, though some reports have mentioned N7.9 billion or N10 billion in total across all charges.
Mrs Oduah and the other defendants were first formally arraigned on July 21, 2023, after multiple delays, and they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In July and November 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, ordered that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) take over the prosecution from the EFCC to ensure diligent handling of the case amidst procedural controversies.
Those charged alongside Mrs Oduah include her former aide Mrs Gloria Odita, other individuals, and several firms, including China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited.
Mrs Oduah also faces a separate eight-count charge filed in June 2023 for alleged document falsification, specifically for falsely claiming the loss of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.