A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has discharged former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah of a ₦2.5 billion fraud charge following a plea bargain agreement, while convicting two companies linked to the case.
Justice Hamza Muazu ruled that the charges against Oduah and her former aide, Gloria Odita, be dropped after the prosecution formally discontinued the case. The decision followed a negotiated settlement between the parties.
However, the court proceeded against two firms Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited which were accused of benefiting from the alleged fraud.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the government reviewed the matter in line with the plea bargain and decided to continue the case against the companies. In the amended charges, Sobora International Limited was accused of unlawfully possessing ₦838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited allegedly held ₦1.629 billion.
Following a guilty plea entered on behalf of the companies, the court convicted both entities and ordered that they be wound up. Justice Muazu also directed the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution and an additional ₦780 million recovered during the investigation to the Federal Government.
The judge subsequently struck out the earlier five-count charge filed in October 2025, which had included Oduah and Odita as defendants, effectively discharging them from the case.
Oduah and her aide were initially arraigned in December 2025 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation over allegations of fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust. Prosecutors had alleged that in January 2014, the defendants conspired to obtain about ₦2.4 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through private firms under false claims.
The case, brought under provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, had seen the defendants plead not guilty before the eventual plea bargain that led to the latest ruling.
