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Former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, has submitted a plea bargain-related application in connection with the ₦2.5 billion fraud charges pending against her before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.
The development was disclosed on Thursday, February 12, by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo, during court proceedings.
Oyedepo informed the court that the application was received by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in line with the provisions of Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which governs plea bargaining in federal criminal cases. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
According to the DPP, the matter had been slated for the commencement of trial when the plea bargain request was submitted.
“As the prosecution was preparing for trial, the Attorney-General of the Federation received an application from the first defendant seeking discussions. This is in line with Section 270 of the ACJA 2015,” Oyedepo told the court.
While the specific terms of the application were not disclosed in open court, Oyedepo confirmed that discussions were ongoing and requested an adjournment either for a progress report or to proceed with trial if talks failed.
Oduah, her co-defendant Gloria Odita, and their legal representatives were present in court. Counsel to Oduah, Tobechukwu Michael, confirmed the submission of the application, while Wale Balogun, counsel to Odita, also acknowledged the development.
Justice Hamza Muazu subsequently adjourned the case until March 5 for either a report on the plea discussions or the commencement of trial.
Oduah and Odita were arraigned on December 10, 2025, on five counts bordering on fraud involving ₦2.5 billion.
The prosecution alleged that in January 2014, the defendants fraudulently obtained ₦2,469,030,738.9 from the Ministry of Aviation through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited, under the guise of payments for “technical supervision, security integration, and logistics support services.”
The charges were filed under Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Oduah is also facing a separate ₦5 billion money laundering trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, alongside Odita, CCECC Nigeria Limited, and other defendants, including Nwosu Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, and Sobora International Ltd.
The 25-count charge, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 17, 2020, alleges that about ₦5.05 billion was laundered between February and June 2014.
The prosecution claimed that CCECC Nigeria Limited transferred over ₦2.5 billion into a “Private Banking Nominee” account during the period, funds it allegedly ought to have known were proceeds of unlawful activity.
All defendants have denied the allegations. The trial, which began in July 2023, has recorded limited progress due to procedural delays.
