The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, struck out N2.5 billion fraud charges against former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, and her associate, Gloria Odita, following a restitution agreement with the Federal Government.
Justice Hamza Muazu discharged both defendants after the prosecution confirmed that the government had recovered the value of the funds at the centre of the case.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, said he acted on the directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation, noting that the proceeds linked to the charges had been returned, though no figure was disclosed in court.
“The charge dated Tuesday, October 13, 2025, is hereby struck out,” the judge ruled.
Oduah and Odita were arraigned on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, on five counts of fraud involving N2.5 billion allegedly obtained from the Ministry of Aviation in January 2014, under the guise of payments for technical supervision, security and logistics services. They had pleaded not guilty.
The case was resolved after months of plea negotiations under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
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The prosecution first disclosed the talks on Thursday, February 12, 2026, and confirmed on Thursday, March 5, 2026, that restitution had begun.
Under the settlement, amended charges named only two firms: Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited.
Oduah, acting as their representative, entered guilty pleas to two counts, leading to their conviction.
The court ordered the companies to pay N1.2 billion in restitution and approved the forfeiture of N780 million earlier recovered during the investigation.
The offenses involved the unlawful possession of N838 million and N1.629 billion traced to transactions with ISEC Security Maintenance Limited.
Oduah served as Minister of Aviation from Saturday, July 2, 2011, to Wednesday, February 12, 2014, and represented Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate from 2015 to 2023.