ABUJA, December 10, 2025 – Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Wednesday on five counts of fraud totaling approximately N2.5 billion. The charges, filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, accuse Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, of conspiring to defraud the Federal Ministry of Aviation through false pretenses in early 2014. Both women pleaded not guilty, were granted bail on self-recognition, and the case was adjourned to February 12 and 13, 2026, for trial commencement.
The arraignment marks the second major criminal proceeding against Oduah in recent years, coming after prolonged delays in a separate N5 billion money laundering case in which she is also a defendant. Oduah, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics known for her tenure under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, appeared composed in the dock, dressed in a tailored black suit, flanked by her legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Onyechi Ikpeazu. Odita, a former aide and key associate in the aviation ministry’s procurement dealings, was represented by another SAN, Wale Balogun.
Justice Hamza Mu’azu of the FCT High Court, sitting in Maitama, read the charges marked CR/606/2025, which detail alleged offences committed in January 2014 — just weeks before Oduah’s exit from office following the controversial purchase of two armored BMW vehicles at N255 million. The five-count charge accuses the defendants of fraudulently obtaining N2,469,030,738.90 from the ministry through two companies, Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited, under the pretense that the funds were for technical supervision, security integration, and logistics support services.
The prosecution, personally led by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, alleged that the defendants knew the representations were false. The offences are said to contravene Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act with imprisonment of up to 20 years.
After the defendants pleaded not guilty, Onyechi Ikpeazu applied for bail on behalf of Oduah, describing her as a well-known public figure who had voluntarily returned from the United States to face the charges and had complied with all previous administrative bail conditions. Wale Balogun made a similar application for Odita, noting that both defendants had already deposited their international passports with the Federal High Court in the related money laundering case. The prosecution did not oppose the bail applications but urged the court to impose strict conditions, including the surrender of travel documents and a fixed trial timetable.
Justice Mu’azu granted bail to both defendants on self-recognition and ordered the immediate deposit of their international passports with the court registry. When Oduah’s counsel orally applied for the release of her passport, the judge declined, stating that any request to travel abroad would require a formal application and satisfactory reasons. The matter was then adjourned to February 12 and 13, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Oduah and Odita are already standing trial in a separate N5 billion money laundering case before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja. That case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2020, involves 25 counts against Oduah, Odita, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, and several individuals and corporate entities. Arraignment in that matter only took place in July 2023 after repeated delays.
The charges allege that between February and June 2014 — shortly after Oduah left office — the defendants laundered over N5.05 billion. Specific allegations include conspiracy to launder funds, unlawful transfer and possession of proceeds of crime, opening of anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, and receiving over N2.5 billion from CCECC into those nominee accounts. All defendants in that case have pleaded not guilty.
The fresh fraud charges revive scrutiny of Oduah’s 32-month tenure as Minister of Aviation from July 2011 to February 2014. During that period, she initiated major airport remodeling projects and introduced new safety protocols, but her administration was repeatedly criticized for lack of transparency in contract awards and payments. The 2013 armored BMW vehicles scandal, which led to her removal from office, had earlier prompted investigations, but no criminal charges were filed until the current cases.
After leaving the cabinet, Oduah was elected Senator for Anambra North in 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She served as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and was one of the few female senators championing gender-related legislation. However, her political career has been overshadowed by the ongoing EFCC investigations.
Outside the courtroom on Wednesday, a modest crowd of journalists, supporters, and civil society activists gathered. Reactions on social media were sharply divided, with some praising the government’s resolve to prosecute high-profile corruption cases regardless of political affiliation, while others described the charges as politically motivated ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As Nigeria continues its fight against corruption, the twin trials of Stella Oduah highlight the challenges of securing swift convictions in complex financial crime cases involving politically exposed persons. With both matters now fixed for hearing in 2026, the coming year is expected to feature intense legal battles, forensic examination of ministry records, and testimony from contractors and bank officials.
For now, the former minister and senator remains at liberty, but under strict bail conditions that restrict international travel without court permission.
