N7.9 billion Fraud Allegation: On EFCC’s failed prosecution of ex-Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, ex-aides

The case of a whooping sum of N7.9 billion allegedly stolen by the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua Ogiemwonyi, while in office from July 2, 2011 to February 12, 2014 has become a mirage given the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to mount a diligent criminal prosecution to conclusively satisfy the mandate of the Commission.

Out of the wobbling prosecution, Oduah was only asked to refund the sum of N320 million after a court judgement on 5th June, 2023, while nothing has been heard two years after she was arraigned with her aides in crime alongside other proxies.

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Oduah who was a Minister of Aviation in the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja, over charges bordering on fraud and corruption to the tune of N7.9 billion.

She was arraigned three years alongside one of her former aides, Gloria Odita and seven others, on a 25-count criminal charge bordering on fraud, corruption, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts, amongst others.

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CAPITAL POST recalled that the Nigerian government filed charges against her in 2021 and midway into the charges, Stella Oduah sought for plea bargaining when for the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami was in office, with Abdulrasheed Bawa as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The plea was neither granted nor rejected before the administration of the former President Muhammadu Buhari elapsed.

Five years after the 25-count charge was filed against her alleging financial crimes, the case has been stalled and she may not face the further prosecution.

Though Stella has been on administrative bail and having not pleaded guilty as charged, would the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC ensure conclusion of her prosecution and those of her aides in crime as well as other proxies?

There are several abandoned or inconclusive cases by the EFCC involving Nigeria’s kleptomaniacs or those cases which have been swept under the carpet. Will Stella Oduah’s case become one of those cases? This is a million questions by Nigerians begging for answers.

During her tenure of office, Nigeria’s airports were ‘death colony’ as a result of dilapidated infrastructure with some national and local carriers not wanting to patronize the airports.

Stella Oduah became a Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, and served two tenure of office

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