Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, appeared in a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Wednesday to face N5 billion corruption charges. The charges were filed by the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
Senator Oduah, who served as Minister of Aviation between 2011 and 2015, was arraigned on five counts related to advance fee fraud and conspiracy. She was accused of unlawfully obtaining large sums of money through fraudulent claims while in office.
In one of the counts, the former minister allegedly obtained N2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through a company called Broad Waters Resources. She reportedly claimed that the money was meant for the cost of technical supervision. However, the government alleged that this claim was false and that the funds were obtained by “fraudulent pretences” in January 2014.
The other counts against her involve sums of N1.6 billion and N839 million, also allegedly obtained under false pretences. The charges are brought under Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, which criminalises fraudulent claims for financial gain.
During the arraignment, Senator Oduah, who was docked alongside one other accused person, denied all the charges. She was represented in court by prominent legal practitioner, Onyechi Ikpeazu, who argued that the former minister was innocent of the allegations.
The case has attracted significant public attention, as Stella Oduah remains a high-profile figure in Nigerian politics. She previously served as a Senator representing Anambra North before being appointed Minister of Aviation. Her tenure at the ministry was marked by controversy, including allegations of financial impropriety, which had drawn scrutiny from both the media and anti-corruption agencies.
Justice Hamza Muazu presided over the arraignment and granted Senator Oduah bail on self-recognisance. She was ordered to deposit her travelling passport with the court and is barred from leaving Nigeria without prior permission from the court.
The Federal Government has maintained that the case is part of ongoing efforts to hold public officials accountable for mismanagement of public funds. The Attorney General’s office stated that the prosecution will provide evidence to show that the funds were diverted from the ministry under false pretences.
Corruption in Nigeria’s public sector has long been a major concern, with past governments struggling to effectively prosecute high-profile cases. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have in recent years stepped up investigations into alleged misuse of public funds by former ministers and senior officials.
Senator Oduah’s arraignment follows several high-profile prosecutions of former government officials for alleged corruption. These cases often draw intense media coverage and public debate, with opinions divided over whether prosecution serves justice or is politically motivated.
Stella Oduah, who was once a celebrated figure in Nigerian politics, especially for her role in aviation reform and development, now faces a trial that will test both her political legacy and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption measures.
Her lawyers have indicated that they are confident she will be cleared of the charges, stressing that the former minister acted within the law during her tenure. Meanwhile, civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates are closely monitoring the case, citing it as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability in public office.
