They are being charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has authorised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute former Aviation Minister, Sen. Stella Oduah, and others on alleged N5 billion fraud.
This was disclosed to Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, at the resumed hearing on the matter by Prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman, SAN, on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
Oduah, a serving senator (Anambra North Senatorial District) and others were to be arraigned by the EFCC on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation in the 25-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020.
Other defendants include Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd and Sobora International Ltd.
They are being charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.
Justice Ekwo had, on May 10, fixed Wednesday for arraignment of the defendants following a letter from the office of the AGF in response to a petition by counsel to the 8th defendant in the suit, Ogbu James (SAN) on November 22, 2021.
Ogbu had raised objection to the defendants taking their plea because the petition addressed to the AGF alleging the defendants were being persecuted instead of prosecuted, had not been acted upon.
In response, the court adjourned to await a response from the AGF which was conveyed to the court by counsel to the EFCC, Mr Liman. Lawyers to all the defendants also acknowledged receipt of the letter from the AGF.
The judge, who ordered an accelerated hearing in the trial, directed all parties to put their house in order.
Ekwo said the trial would be on a day-to-day basis and adjourned until Feb. 13, Feb. 14, Feb. 15, Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, 2023 for hearing.
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