A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court has discharged Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, of a N2.5 billion fraud charge. The court also discharged Gloria Odita, a former aide to Oduah.
Hamza Muazu, the presiding judge, ordered their discharge on Thursday after the prosecution said it had discontinued the case against them based on a plea bargain agreement reached by the parties.
However, the prosecution retained two companies linked to the former minister — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited — as defendants in an amended charge.
Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the federal government, said the prosecution reviewed the case in light of the agreement and proceeded against the companies, which were accused of benefiting from the alleged fraud.
In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was accused of being unlawfully in possession of N838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited allegedly possessed N1.629 billion.
Following a guilty plea entered on behalf of the companies, Oyedepo urged the court to convict them and order their winding up.
He also asked the judge to order the forfeiture of N1.2 billion paid as restitution, contained in a bank draft submitted before the court, as well as N780 million recovered during investigation.
