RismadarVoice Reporters
March 27, 2026
The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday discharged former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, after funds linked to the case were returned to the Federal Government.
Trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, struck out the charge against Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, following confirmation by the prosecution that the alleged proceeds had been recovered.
“The charge dated October 13, 2025, is hereby struck out, and the defendants are accordingly discharged,” the judge ruled.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he acted on the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation to confirm that the government had received the value of the funds in question.
Following the development, the prosecution amended the charge to retain only two companies; Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited – as defendants, effectively removing Oduah and Odita from the case.
Counsel to the former minister, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and counsel to Odita, Wale Balogun (SAN), had urged the court to withdraw the charges against their clients.
Although the prosecution initially suggested that Oduah and Odita could still appear as representatives of the companies, the court clarified that no conviction would be recorded against them personally.
After a brief adjournment to resolve procedural issues, both parties agreed that only the companies would stand trial, represented by designated individuals.
The Federal Government subsequently arraigned the firms on two counts bordering on fraud.
According to the charge, Sobora International Limited allegedly possessed N838 million in 2015, suspected to have been illegally obtained from the Ministry of Aviation through ISEC Security Maintenance Limited.
Global Offshore Marine Limited was also accused of holding N1.629 billion from the same source.
Oduah, appearing as a representative of the companies, entered a guilty plea to the amended charges.
The court consequently convicted the companies and ordered the restitution of N1.2 billion to the Federal Government, along with the forfeiture of N780 million recovered during the investigation.
