Ex-Minister Oduah’s trial for alleged N7.9 billion fraud is approved by AGF Malami

Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has ordered Stella Oduah, a former minister of aviation and current senator from Anambra North, to be charged with allegedly laundering N7.9 billion.
In a letter to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a complaint against Oduah and others, Malami gave instructions.

Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, and Sobora International Limited are further defendants listed in the charge.
They are accused of conspiring, laundering money, and keeping secret bank accounts.

Despite the fact that the charges were brought last year, the defendants’ arraignment was postponed after Crystal Television’s counsel, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), requested permission to review the case file and provide his opinion to Malami and the AGF.

Yesterday, when the issue was brought up, prosecuting attorney Offem Uket let the court know that Malami had a written opinion that was available.
He claimed that the letter from the minister indicated that Oduah and others should be tried based on the already-filed charges.

As a result of the development, Justice Inyang Ekwo postponed the defendants’ arraignment to February 13, 2023.