Alleged N2.4bn fraud: Oduah opens plea bargain talks with AGF

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama was informed that former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has approached the Attorney General of the Federation for discussions on a possible plea bargain over criminal charges pending against her and a former aide.

Oduah and her ex-aide, Gloria Odita, were arraigned on December 10 on a five-count charge alleging the misappropriation of about N2.4 billion in public funds. The charge was filed on October 14 by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between January and February 2014 while Oduah was in office.

When the case was called, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who is also Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, told the court that although the matter was scheduled for trial, the prosecution received an application from Oduah seeking room for discussions. He said the request was made under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which allows plea bargain negotiations, and asked for an adjournment to enable parties report back on the outcome or proceed to trial if talks fail.

Lawyers to the defendants, Tobechukwu Michael (SAN) and Wale Balogun (SAN), confirmed the position stated by the prosecution.

Presiding judge Hamza Muazu adjourned further proceedings to March 5 for an update.

The prosecution alleges that Oduah and Odita conspired to obtain N2,459,030,733.50 from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through two companies, Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited, by presenting the payments as costs for “technical supervision” and “security integrated and logistic support services.”

One count alleges that on January 13, 2014, the defendants obtained N839,780,738.90 through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited’s account with First Bank Plc under the pretext of technical supervision costs. Another alleges that on February 12, 2014, they obtained N1,629,250,000 through Global Offshore Marine Limited’s account with First Bank Plc, described as payment for security integrated support services.

The charge also accuses the defendants of breaching official trust by authorising the transfer of the same sums while overseeing a contract awarded to I-SEC Security Nigeria Ltd. All alleged offences are said to be contrary to provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Penal Code.