Political circles were closely watching the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, on Wednesday as the Federal Government commenced formal proceedings against the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, on serious charges of fraud and criminal breach of trust.
The former minister appeared in court alongside a co-defendant, Ms. Gloria Odita, to face a five-count charge relating to allegations of obtaining monies by false pretence and dishonestly misappropriating public funds during her tenure.
The prosecution alleges that in 2014, the two defendants conspired to unlawfully procure the substantial sum of ₦2,469,030,738.90 (approximately £2.4 billion at the time of the alleged offence) from the Federal Ministry of Aviation. This sum was reportedly channeled through two companies; Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd, under allegedly fraudulent claims pertaining to ‘Cost of Technical Supervision’ and ‘Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services’.
Upon the charges being read, both defendants entered a plea of not guilty to all five counts.
Subsequently, legal counsel for the accused moved to argue for their bail. Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), representing Princess Oduah, implored the court to grant his client bail on self-recognisance. He highlighted the former Minister’s integrity, noting that she is a highly respected citizen and had voluntarily flown in from the United States specifically to honour the court summons, having previously been granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The prosecution, led personally by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), confirmed that the government would not object to the application for bail. However, the AGF strongly insisted that the court must issue an order compelling both defendants to surrender their respective international travel documents to the court registry. He further pressed the court for the shortest possible adjournment date for the commencement of the full trial, noting that the defendants had been served with the charge sheet as far back as November 27, 2025.
Following the submissions, Justice Hamza Muazu delivered a bench ruling, granting the application for bail as prayed, given the prosecution’s lack of objection. However, the judge acceded to the AGF’s request regarding documentation, stating that the defendants’ travel documents would be surrendered to the court and would only be released upon presentation of highly convincing reasons.
Justice Muazu thereafter adjourned the matter, fixing the trial dates for February 12 and 13, 2026.
In the particulars of the charge, Count One specifically alleges that the defendants “agreed amongst yourselves to obtain the whopping sum of two billion, four hundred and sixty-nine million, thirty thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight naira, nine kobo (₦2,469,030,738.90) … by falsely pretending the said sum represented ‘Cost of Technical Supervision’ and ‘Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services,’ which representation you knew to be false.”
The final counts allege that Princess Oduah, in her capacity as Minister, dishonestly misappropriated specific sums earmarked for a contract awarded to 1-Sec Security Nigeria Ltd, an act deemed a breach of official trust and an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code.
