N5bn fraud: Court shifts ex-Aviation minister, trial of Oduah, 5 others to June
Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Abuja, Monday, shifted the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, and five others to June 5.
Oduah, who was an aviation minister under the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing trial over on alleged N5 billion fraud.
The trial, which was scheduled to commence, Monday, adjourned to June 5 as its hearing was not listed by the court in its cause.
Also, neither the prosecution counsel nor the defence lawyers were in court.
It was however, gathered that the trial had been fixed for June 5, June 6, June 7, June 8, and June 9, but could not ascertain the real reason for the adjournment, though electoral matters had recently dominated matters in the court.
Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was expected to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation.
Other defendants in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.
Others are; Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd, and others.
They are being charged with conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.
They face a 25-count charge.
Oduah who had defected to the ruling Al Progressives Congress (APC) in the wake of the trial has since rejoined her former party, the Peoples democratic Party (PDP).
It would be recalled that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, had given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) approval to prosecute the former minister on allegations bordering on fraud, last October.
Justice Ekwo had fixed October 12, 2022, for the arraignment of the defendants following a letter from the office of the AGF in response to a petition written by counsel to the 8th defendant in the suit, Ogbu James, SAN.
