Ex-Aviation minister, Oduah docked over alleged N7.9b fraud, denies charges

<p>The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former minister of Aviation, Stella Adaeze Oduah, before Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a 25-count charge bordering on money laundering.</p>, <p>She was docked alongside three others – Gloria Odita, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Irene Chukwuma; and five companies – Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tiptop Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.</p>, <p>Oduah, who represented Anambra North in the Senate in the 9th Senate, however, denied all 25-count charges slammed on her and her co- defendants.</p>, <p>Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Stella Adaeze Oduah, whilst being the Minister of Aviation, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Gloria Odita, whilst being the Company Secretary to Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC), and an aide to the former Minister of Aviation, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, whilst being an employee of Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC) and an aide to the former Minister of Aviation, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tiptop Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited between January 2014 and April 2014 at Abuja within the judicial division of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: ‘Money Laundering’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”</p>, <p>Count 5 reads: “That you, Stella Adaeze Oduah, whilst being the Minister of Aviation, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, a Limited Liability Company registered under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on or about February 12, 2014 at Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court took control of the sum of N1, 629,250,000.00 only and paid into the account