AGF Arraigns Stella Oduah in Fresh N2.5bn Fraud Case

Nigeria’s Attorney-General on Wednesday brought a new N2.5 billion fraud case against Stella Oduah at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, where she appeared alongside co-defendant Gloria Odita.

The charge sheet, read in open court, stated that the defendants “obtained the sum of N2,469,030,738.9 by false pretence,” adding that the money was presented as payment for “technical supervision, security integrated services, and logistics support.” Prosecutors said the funds moved through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited in January 2014.

A prosecutor told the court that the transactions were “misrepresented as legitimate services when, in fact, they were not,” insisting the acts violated the Advance Fee Fraud Act.

Both defendants entered not-guilty pleas. Their lawyers urged the court to grant bail, with Oduah’s counsel arguing that “the defendant has shown consistent compliance in the related matter before the Federal High Court.” Odita’s counsel added that “all travel documents have already been surrendered in the sister case.”

Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi did not oppose the bail requests but asked the court to ensure strict conditions. “The state is prepared to proceed without delay,” he said while urging the court to set fixed dates for trial. He also requested that all travel documents be retained to guarantee attendance.

Justice Hamza Muazu granted the defendants bail on self-recognition and ordered that their passports remain with the court. When Oduah’s counsel asked for the return of her documents for potential travel, the judge responded that “any such request must come by formal application and must satisfy the court that it will not disrupt proceedings.”

Trial is scheduled to begin on 12 and 13 February 2026.

Oduah and Odita are also defendants in a separate N5 billion money-laundering case, which includes CCECC Nigeria Limited and several individuals and companies. In that matter, the prosecution alleges that the defendants moved more than N5 billion between February and June 2014, including transfers into anonymous nominee accounts. One of the counts states that CCECC transferred “over N2.5 billion into a Private Banking Nominee account” within a ten-week period.

All defendants in both cases maintain their innocence.