Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah arraigned on multi-billion naira fraud charges

The Federal Government on Wednesday formally arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, on a five-count charge on fraud and criminal breach of trust.
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‎Oduah was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Gloria Odita, over allegations that they conspired to fraudulently obtain over ₦2.469 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation in 2014.
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The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), accused the former Minister of complex financial crimes spanning her tenure.
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The allegations include the conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, claiming the sum represented cost of technical supervision and security integrated and logistics support services.
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Princess Stella Oduah and Gloria Odita pleaded not guilty to all five counts read against them. Following their plea, lawyers for the defendants, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for Oduah, moved for bail applications.
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‎Ikpeazu requested bail on self-recognisance, stating that the former Minister had been on administrative bail by the EFCC and voluntarily traveled from the United States to honour the court summons.
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‎The AGF, Fagbemi, did not oppose the bail applications but insisted that the court must order the defendants to surrender their travel documents to the court registry.
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‎Justice Hamza Muazu granted the bail applications but ordered the defendants to surrender their travel documents, which would only be released if they presented convincing reasons to the court. The Judge then fixed February 12 and 13, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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